Download the full Joint Statement
We, the undersigned EU-funded research projects, issue this joint statement to clarify our position on the European Commission’s Proposal for a Regulation Establishing a Common System for Returns (the “proposal”).
The proposal, published on the 11th of March 2025, states it has “been informed by several EU-financed (ongoing) research projects in the field of return and irregular migration”, referring specifically to the FAiR, GAPs, MIrreM, and MORE projects. While the proposal states that it was “informed” by our research, it does not transparently state how this has been done. This may create the impression that we actively contributed to, or were directly consulted for its development, which is not the case. We are interested to know if the upcoming Commission Staff Working Paper will offer a more detailed explanation of how our project findings were considered.
Research-based policymaking should be encouraged and is certainly one of the objectives of our projects, yet rigorous research must not be exploited through selective interpretation or misrepresentation of findings. Indeed, some statements made in the context section of the current proposal run contrary to our findings.
Call to Action
We see the reference to our projects as an obligation to actively engage in a discussion with the Commission regarding this proposal. In the coming months, FAiR, GAPs, MIrreM, and MORE will host events and activities with policymakers and other stakeholders. We invite the Council, the European Parliament, and the Commission to join us in a constructive, evidence-based dialogue to ensure our projects’ findings are fully considered.
Signed,
FAiR, GAPs, MIrreM, and MORE
Download the full Joint Statement
Contact information EU-funded Migration projects:
Finding Agreement in Return (FAiR)
Arjen Leerkes, Principal investigator, Erasmus University Rotterdam
fair@eur.nl
www.fair-return.org
Motivations, Experiences and Consequences of Returns and Readmissions Policy: Revealing and Developing Effective Alternatives (MORE)
Olga Jubany, Principal investigator, Universitat de Barcelona
info@moreproject-horizon.eu / pr.more@ub.edu
De-centring the Study of Migrant Returns and Readmission Policies in Europe and Beyond (GAPS)
Principal investigators: Zeynep Sahin-Mencütek, Bonn International Centre for Conflict Studies, and Soner Barthoma, Uppsala University
gaps.return.migration@gmail.com
https://www.returnmigration.eu/
Measuring Irregular Migration and Related Policies (MIrreM)
Albert Kraler, Principal investigator, The University for Continuing Education Krems
info@irregularmigration.eu