ECRE Information Note on the Returns Directive

This Information Note on the Directive of the European Parliament and the Council (2008/115/EC) on common standards and procedures in Member States for returning illegally staying third country nationals outlines ECRE's view on the Directive and provides detailed analysis of some of its key provisions.

In particular, ECRE emphasises its serious concerns about the provision of an extremely short period for a person to prepare to return, ranging between 7 and 30 days; the obligation to include entry bans as long as 5 years in certain return decisions; and the possibility to detain third country nationals, including families, unaccompanied children as well as other vulnerable persons, for up to 18 months for reasons beyond their control. ECRE urges Member States to abide to their commitment to refrain from using the Directive as a pretext to justify the adoption of harsher return measures.

ECRE Information Note on the Returns Directive (232.43 KB)