Civil Rights Defenders joins call to reject EU’s proposed return regulation
Civil Rights Defenders has joined over 200 organisations across Europe in signing a joint statement urging the European Commission to withdraw its proposed Return Regulation. The proposal, presented in March 2025, represents a dangerous shift in EU migration policy and prioritizes deportation, detention, and surveillance over human rights, dignity, and inclusion.
The regulation would allow:
- Deportations to countries with no personal ties, risking family separation and legal limbo.
- Expansion of detention, including for children and vulnerable groups.
- Mandatory surveillance and racial profiling, undermining trust in public services.
- Punitive sanctions for non-compliance, even when individuals face barriers beyond their control.
- Erosion of appeal rights and privacy protections, with increased digital tracking and data sharing.
Civil Rights Defenders is closely monitoring the development of this proposal and continues to advocate for rights-based migration policies that uphold the rule of law and protect the dignity of all individuals, regardless of status.
“This proposal undermines fundamental rights and sets a dangerous precedent for migration governance in Europe. We call on EU institutions to reject it and invest in policies rooted in protection, justice, and inclusion.”
Read Civil Rights Defenders report on the EU Migration and Asylum Pact here (only in Swedish)
