"We should all work together for the creation of a regulation with binding minimum standards, which efficiently supports return efforts for those staying illegally in the EU through a systemic approach that does not place additional burdens on local and regional authorities already facing challenges with accommodation, integration, and care." These were the remarks of Karin Müller (DE/EPP), European Committee of the Regions Rapporteur on the Regulation establishing a common system for the return of third-country nationals staying illegally in the Union, during an exchange of views at a meeting of the CIVEX commission (Citizenship, Governance, Institutional and External Affairs).
Müller emphasized that the regulation is about more than ensuring an effective and efficient return policy: “It is about the implementation of our rule of law, and it is about the working capacity of our regions.” She stressed that efficient return management must take into account the principle of subsidiarity. While she welcomed harmonisation across the EU, she warned that it can at times result in inefficient processes, with significant impacts on local and regional authorities. Müller referred to the worrying discrepancy between return decisions and actual returns—“less than a quarter of those who should have left the EU have actually done so.”
Müller, who also serves as State Secretary for European and International Affairs and De-bureaucratisation in the State of Hesse, highlighted the importance of distinguishing between those who must be returned through immediate and efficient procedures and those who deserve protection due to political, religious, or cultural persecution.
Catherine Delacour, Head of the Sector for Return Policy at the European Commission’s DG HOME, expressed support for Müller’s position: “Our approach aims to put in place a proposal that is fair. It’s important to manage these processes quickly and efficiently. Our objective is to simplify and reduce administrative burdens. I agree on the need to help authorities with clear rules and more structured processes.”
Celia Alberto Peres, Director-General of European Affairs for the Government of the Canary Islands, underlined the gravity of the situation: “In 2024, the Canary Islands registered 47,000 irregular arrivals, including 5,700 unaccompanied minors. These numbers pose major challenges for both people and local administrations. It is difficult to ensure dignified returns in such conditions.” She called for adequate funding and support for local and regional authorities to enable them to provide essential social services and education. She stressed the importance of the Return Directive for establishing order, and added: “We defend return with efficiency, legal guarantees, and respect for human rights. For these principles to be upheld, regions must receive adequate resources and structural support.”
Arnoldas Abramavičius, Zarasai District Municipality Councillor and CIVEX Coordinator, echoed this sentiment, stating: “We need increased efficiency of returns and additional funding for regional and local authorities which implement these returns, but also provide educational and social services for migrants. This proposal is an important missing piece in the existing EU legislation.”
Aleksandra Dulkiewicz, Mayor of Gdańsk, urged a broader geopolitical perspective: “We need to look at the broader picture on migration. Russia and Belarus are utilising migrants as a pressure tool towards EU Member States, especially the Baltic ones to destablise our Union.”
Background on the Proposed Return Regulation
On 11 March 2025, the European Commission presented a proposal for a new Return Regulation, aimed at replacing Directive 2008/115/EC, which has guided EU return policies since 2008. The proposal seeks to overcome the limitations posed by a patchwork of 27 national systems with divergent approaches and procedures, which currently hamper the effectiveness of return measures at the Union level.
The proposal lays out a consistent and comprehensive European return policy, structured into nine chapters, many of which are likely to impact local and regional authorities. These include repatriation measures, bureaucratic processes, and security-related responsibilities, all of which require significant coordination and administrative capacity at sub-national levels.
Next steps: The opinion will be presented in the upcoming CIVEX Commission meeting and will later be adopted during the CoR Plenary session.
