In the second quarter of 2024, France led the EU in the number of migrants deported, with over 3,000 individuals being returned to third countries out of a total of more than 25,000 migrants deported from the EU. Despite a 10% decrease in the number of migrants ordered to leave compared to the previous year, only about a third of those who received deportation orders actually left the bloc. This gap between orders to leave and actual repatriations is slowly narrowing, as the number of individuals returned to third countries increased by 21.3% compared to the same quarter in 2023. France, Germany, and Sweden were the top three countries enforcing migrant deportations in the EU during this period, with France issuing the highest number of repatriation orders.
In terms of nationalities receiving deportation orders in the second quarter of 2024, Algerians and Moroccans made up 7% of the total, followed by Turks and Syrians at 6% each. However, the largest nationalities that effectively left the EU during this time were Georgians, Albanians, and Turks. Despite the large number of repatriation orders and deportations, there are still thousands of migrants stuck in bureaucratic limbo due to various reasons such as health issues, identification issues, human trafficking victims, and unaccompanied minors. The lack of harmonization of procedures among EU member states poses a challenge in accurately tracking repatriations and ensuring the legality of these processes.
According to Centre for European Policy Studies Senior Research Fellow Sergio Carrera, the EU’s repatriation directive does not provide a standardized approach to dealing with issues that may prevent the deportation of migrants. This results in varied practices across different member states and regions, leading to a lack of transparency and accountability in the repatriation process. To address these challenges, the EU is funding a project called “More,” which aims to evaluate the effectiveness of EU and UK returns and readmissions policies. The project will focus on assessing whether these policies comply with fundamental rights and aim to improve the repatriation process.
The discrepancy between repatriation orders and actual repatriations does not mean that tens of thousands of migrants are hiding in the EU, according to experts. Instead, various factors such as technical barriers, health issues, identification challenges, and legal protections for specific groups like victims of human trafficking and unaccompanied minors may prevent the immediate deportation of some individuals. The lack of harmonization and transparency in repatriation procedures makes it difficult to accurately quantify the extent of the repatriation phenomenon and ensure the human rights of migrants are upheld.
The EU’s efforts to address these challenges through projects like “More” highlight the need for a comprehensive and rights-based approach to managing and executing repatriation policies. By critically examining the current returns and readmissions policies, the EU aims to improve the effectiveness, transparency, and accountability of the repatriation process while safeguarding the fundamental rights of migrants. As the number of migrants ordered to leave the EU continues to fluctuate, it is essential to prioritize a fair and lawful approach to repatriation that respects the rights and dignity of all individuals involved.