Greece returns irregular migrants from its lands to Turkey
In 2022, over 400,000 people were ordered to leave an EU Member State, with the majority of those being non-EU citizens who were forcibly returned to a country outside of the EU. The statistics were published on May 5th by Eurostat, the EU’s statistics bureau. This represents a significant increase from the previous year, where only 364,000 people were asked to leave.
While the majority of those asked to leave were non-EU citizens, over 1 million people were found to be undocumented within an EU Member State, and a further 141,060 people were refused entry into the bloc, either at its external borders or at airports in Member States. These numbers demonstrate the ongoing challenges faced by the EU in managing migration, particularly in light of the ongoing refugee crisis.
According to statisticians, the largest number of refusals of entry were reported by Poland, Hungary, Croatia, and Ireland. Ukrainians accounted for the largest number of entry refusals in the EU, primarily due to overstaying their visa-free status. The net largest numbers were recorded for citizens of Albania and Russia.
France reported the largest number of non-EU citizens ordered to leave its territory, followed by Croatia and Greece. France also reported the largest number of non-EU citizens returned to another EU Member State, followed by Germany and Sweden.
Hungary, which has a staunchly anti-immigration government, reported the largest number of non-EU citizens living undocumented within its country, followed by Germany and Italy. Belgium also struggled with undocumented migrants, with over 10,000 people found to be undocumented in the country last year.
The reasons for individuals being asked to leave an EU Member State can vary, from overstaying a visa to engaging in criminal activity. However, the high number of individuals being asked to leave demonstrates the ongoing challenges faced by the EU in managing migration and ensuring the security of its citizens.
Senior officials have commented on the issue, with some expressing concern over the rise in numbers. “These statistics are deeply troubling and show the need for the EU to take a more proactive approach to managing migration and addressing the root causes of why people are leaving their countries,” said EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson.
Others have expressed the need for more support and resources to be provided to Member States to help manage migration. “The EU needs to provide more support to Member States in managing migration, including providing funding and resources to ensure that people can be processed and sheltered appropriately,” said Croatian Minister of the Interior Davor Bozinovic.
The impact of these decisions is felt most acutely by the individuals affected, many of whom have left their home countries in search of a better life. For those who are forcibly returned to their home countries, the experience can be traumatic and can result in significant challenges in reintegrating into their communities.
Credit: Eurostat
Of particular concern are the numbers of individuals from India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh who have been affected by these decisions. While specific numbers for these countries were not provided in the Eurostat statistics, there are reports of individuals from these countries being among those who have been asked to leave.
The reasons for individuals from these countries being asked to leave can vary, but in many cases, it is related to issues around documentation and overstaying visas. For those who are returned to their home countries, the challenges of reintegrating can be significant, particularly if they have been away for an extended period of time.
While the EU continues to grapple with the challenges of managing migration and ensuring the security of its citizens, it is clear that more needs to be done to address the root causes of migration and to provide support to those who are affected by these decisions.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Coverpage’s editorial stance.
