A coalition of more than 200 civil society organisations has issued a joint statement urging the European Union to reject the European Commission’s proposed Return Regulation. The organisations warn that the proposal prioritises detention, deportation, and enforcement over protection, social inclusion, and fundamental rights, marking a shift towards punitive migration policies that disproportionately affect racialised and vulnerable communities.
This punitive approach is reflected in the Regulation’s provisions, which would allow deportations to countries with which individuals have no prior connection and establish detention-like “return hubs” outside EU territory. It also expands surveillance and detection measures and increases the scope and duration of detention, including for children and other vulnerable groups. Together, these measures risk pushing people into legal limbo, restricting access to healthcare and social services, and generating fear and insecurity within migrant communities and society at large.
The organisations call on EU institutions to withdraw and reject the proposal in its current form, advocating instead for policies grounded in protection, inclusion, and human dignity. They emphasise the importance of strengthening communities, providing meaningful legal pathways, and investing in safety, social cohesion, and rights-based approaches to migration, rather than punitive measures that exacerbate marginalisation and vulnerability.