Joint Statement against the eu Council’s Return Regulation Proposal

Together with 66 other Civil Society organizations, HRLP signed a joint statement denouncing the EU Council's proposal for a Return Regulation as a severe threat to the fundamental rights, safety and dignity of people on the move.

Raising the alarm on the weakening and deterioration of the safeguards, legal protections, and fundamental rights standards within EU return policy, the undersigned NGOs called on EU institutions and Member States to

• Restore and strengthen fundamental rights safeguards in the Return Regulation proposal.

• Prioritise dignified, safe, and sustainable return.

• Ensure legal certainty and compliance with EU and international law.

read full statement (en & gr)

Joint-Statement-on-the-Councils-position-on-the-Return-Regulation - EN.pdf

Download PDF • 141KB

Joint Statement-on-the-Councils-position-on-the-Return-Regulation_GR.pdf

Download PDF • 110KB

Update on negotiations (8.12.25)

At the Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) Council meeting that took place in Brussels on Monay the 8th of December, the Danish Presidency succeeded in securing a general approach among Member States on the Return Regulation, alongside several other agreements on asylum-related files.

That is to say, that all the harmful positions that which the statement warned against have been agreed upon. This position will serve as the basis for negotiations with the European Parliament.

Our attention now shifts to monitoring the developments in the European Parliament, who is still in the process of defining its position.

You may find the Council's press release here and the Council’s agreed position here.