The European Union Commission has revealed to the EU Council the first factual assessment on cooperation on readmission with partner third-countries, which has been carried out as a part of the revised Visa Code and the comprehensive approach to migration policy outlined in the New Pact on Migration and Asylum.

The assessment on the cooperation of third countries on readmission is based on a comprehensive set of indicators in the Visa Code which takes into account all phases of the readmission process starting from identification to the issuance of travel documents and effective return.

At the same time, the assessment also evaluates some common challenges in readmission cooperation, including difficulties to identification, late issuance of travel documents, non-respect of deadlines or non-acceptance of charter flights. The assessment lays out in detail the engagement of the EU with each country, as well as the efforts that have been made in order to improve cooperation on readmission.

Commenting on the assessment, the Vice-President for Promoting our European Way of Life, Margaritis Schinas, said that overall, it shows that there is no one right approach for each country when it comes to cooperation on readmission.

“Under our New Pact on Migration and Asylum, the EU is working on tailor-made partnerships with countries outside the EU, using all tools at its disposal, from visa policy to development cooperation, investment, trade and employment, to achieve a more balanced and comprehensive approach to migration cooperation,” he said, further adding that effective return and readmission are a key piece of the puzzle.

Whereas the EU Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, asserted that the humane, effective return, readmission and reintegration of those who are not eligible to stay in the EU is an important element in the comprehensive New Migration Pact.

According to here, readmission is a challenge for both the EU and its partners, noting that the EU support for assisted voluntary return and sustainable reintegration benefits all parties involved.

“This report gives an important insight into what more can be done to address both return and readmission obstacles. I look forward to discussing the findings with the Council and engaging with partners to improve cooperation as part of our comprehensive migration dialogue while fostering a common EU system for returns,” she said.

The Commission had revealed its proposal for a new Pact on Migration and Asylum back in September 2020, through which it intends to create a new common European approach to migration.

Among others, the New Migration Pact sets out a common system for all EU Member States for the return of non-eligible migrants, in collaboration with their home countries, which are partner countries of the EU.

In the first factual assessment, selected countries were evaluated based on objective criteria, by looking at countries the nationals of which are subject to a short-stay visa requirement for the Schengen Area and for which the EU issued more than 1,000 return decisions in 2018.

Only for over one-third of the assessed countries, the Member States have had a bad experience, which means the level of cooperation with those countries on returns and readmission requires improvements. Whereas for almost two-thirds of the partner countries, Member States experienced good or average cooperation.

The assessment concludes that overall, the valued of EU readmission agreements and readmission instruments are most effective when adjusted to the specific situation.