Returns of irregular migrants - quarterly statistics

Data extracted on 18 March 2024

Planned article update: 28 June 2024

Highlights

105 585 non-EU citizens were ordered to leave the territory of an EU country in the fourth quarter of 2023, a decrease of 14.7 % compared with the same period of 2022.

In the fourth quarter of 2023, 28 900 non-EU citizens who received an order to leave an EU country were returned to another country, an increase of 8.3 % compared with the same period of 2022.

Third-country nationals ordered to leave and third-country nationals returned following an order to leave, EU, Q1 2022 - Q4 2023

This article presents two indicators on the enforcement of immigration legislation. It shows statistics on non-EU citizens who were ordered to leave the territory of an EU country^[1] and those who were effectively returned following an order to leave. These indicators can be regarded as an official record of persons subject to the enforcement of EU immigration and national legislation, providing a general overview of the outcomes of territorial surveillance and control procedures.

Full article

Non-EU citizens ordered to leave

In the fourth quarter of 2023, the total number of non-EU citizens ordered to leave the territory of an EU country was 105 585. It was down by 1.6 % compared with the third quarter of 2023, and by 14.7 % compared with the same period of 2022 (see Table 1). Among the EU countries, France reported the largest number of persons ordered to leave (35 175), followed by Germany (12 650) and Greece (6 925). These three EU countries altogether accounted more than half (54 750 persons) of all third-country nationals ordered to leave the territory of an EU country during the fourth quarter of 2023.

Table 1: Third-country nationals ordered to leave an EU country, Q1 2022 - Q4 2023
(persons)
Source: Eurostat (migr_eiord1)

In the fourth quarter of 2023, most third-country nationals ordered to leave were Moroccans (8 230), followed by Algerians (7 665) and Turks (6 500).

Figure 1: Top five third-country nationals ordered to leave, Q1 2022 - Q4 2023
(persons)
Source: Eurostat (migr_eiord1)

Among the top five non-EU citizenships which were issued with an order to leave an EU country (see Figure 1), only the number of Algerians has decreased since Q1 2022 to Q4 2023. In Q4 2023 a substantial decrease (down 26.9 % compared with the previous quarter) was observed for the citizens of Syria, mainly due to the increase reported by Bulgaria in Q3 2023 (from 1 700 persons in Q2 2023 to 4 480 persons in Q3 2023 and 1 540 in Q4 2023).

Returns of non-EU citizens

In the fourth quarter of 2023, 28 900 non-EU citizens who received an order to leave an EU country were effectively returned to another country. This represented an increase of 8.3 % compared with the same period of 2022 (see Table 2). Germany (4 180), France (3 570) and Croatia (2 430) reported the highest numbers of third-country nationals returned following an order to leave in the fourth quarter of 2023 (about 35 % of the EU total). The majority of those returned (22 315), in accordance with an order to leave, were returned to countries outside of the EU (77 % of individuals in the fourth quarter of 2023). In ten countries (Denmark, Greece, Spain, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Portugal and Romania) all the returns were to countries outside of the EU.

Table 2: Third-country nationals returned following an order to leave, Q1 2022 - Q4 2023
(persons)
Source: Eurostat (migr_eirtn1)

The highest number of persons from a non-EU country returned to another country in both the fourth quarter of 2023 (3 360 persons), and for the entire year 2023 (see Figure 2) were citizens of Georgia, followed by citizens of Türkiye (2 395 persons) and Albanians (2 080 persons). A comparison of the third quarter with the fourth quarter of 2023 shows that for all the top five citizenships of people being returned, the number of persons returned increased: Georgia (370 persons more, 12.5 % increase), Türkiye (510 persons more, 27.2 %), Albania (65 persons more, 3.1 %), Morocco (370 persons more, 50.0 %) and Algeria (265 persons more, 31.2 %).

Figure 2: Top five third-country nationals returned following an order to leave, Q1 2022 - Q4 2023
(persons)
Source: Eurostat (migr_eirtn1)

Types of returns and assistance received

In recent years, there has been increased demand for more detailed information on the enforcement of immigration legislation, leading to the development of new statistics on returns (including the collection of statistics on returns by type of return and assistance received). See the methodological note on derogations that were granted to EU countries in the 'Data sources' chapter of this article.

In Figure 3, the information by type of return in the fourth quarter of 2023 is presented. Based on the available data, the returns at EU level show that 46.2 % of returns concerned people who left the territory voluntarily, while 53.8 % concerned those returned forcibly. In Germany, Italy and Hungary all the returns reported were enforced while in Latvia, Lithuania and Denmark more than 95 % of reported returns were recorded as voluntary.

Figure 3: Third-country nationals returned outside an EU or EFTA country, by type of return, Q4 2023
(%)
Source: Eurostat (migr_eirtn1)

To facilitate the return of non-EU citizens there are some assisted return programmes funded by the EU, national or international organisations to provide reintegration support for returnees. This may include administrative, logistical and/or financial support to migrants who return to their country of origin. In the fourth quarter of 2023, across the EU countries for which data are available, 71.0 % of returns were assisted and 29.0 % were non-assisted (see Figure 4). In Germany, Spain, Italy, Hungary and Portugal all non-EU citizens were assisted in their return, while almost all third-country nationals leaving Latvia and Lithuania were not assisted.

Figure 4: Third-country nationals who left an EU or EFTA country, by type of assistance received,
Q4 2023
(%)
Source: Eurostat (migr_eirtn1)

Unaccompanied minors ordered to leave the EU and those returned following an order to leave

An unaccompanied minor is a person who is less than 18 years old who arrives on the territory of an EU country not accompanied by an adult responsible for the minor or a minor who is left unaccompanied after having entered the territory of a Member State. This new quarterly data collection was launched in 2021. See the methodological note on derogations that were granted to EU countries in the 'Data sources' chapter of this article.

Figures 5 and 6 present information on third-country national unaccompanied minors ordered to leave the EU and those returned following an order to leave^[2].

Based on the available data, the number of unaccompanied minors issued with an order to leave one of the EU countries increased over the period Q1 2022 until Q4 2023 from 235 minors to 645 minors (an increase of 1.7 % compared with Q3 2023, and 12.3 % compared with Q4 2022). It can be observed that more orders to leave for unaccompanied minors were issued in the last two quarters of both 2022 (Q3: 560 and Q4: 575) and 2023 (Q3: 635; Q4: 645) than respectively in the first and second quarters (2022 Q1: 235 and Q2: 325; 2023 Q1: 410 and Q2: 275). In the fourth quarter of 2023, three countries issued the most orders to unaccompanied minors to leave EU territory (91.7 %): Greece (450 persons), followed by Croatia (95 persons) and the Netherlands (45 persons). In terms of citizenship, nearly two-thirds of the unaccompanied minors ordered to leave were from Somalia (155 persons), Afghanistan (140) and Egypt (115).

In the fourth quarter of 2023, three countries issued most orders to unaccompanied minors to leave EU territory (91.7 %): Greece (450 persons), followed by Croatia (95 persons) and the Netherlands (45 persons). In terms of citizenship, nearly two-third of the unaccompanied minors ordered to leave were from Somalia (155 persons), Afghanistan (140) and Egypt (115).

Figure 5: Third-country national unaccompanied minors ordered to leave, Q1 2022 - Q4 2023
(persons)
Source: Eurostat (migr_eiord2)

IIn the fourth quarter of 2023, based on available data, 100 third-country national unaccompanied minors who received an order to leave an EU country were returned to another country. Germany (65 persons), Croatia (20 persons), Sweden and Lithuania (5 persons each) reported that more than three unaccompanied minors were returned to another country following an order to leave. The unaccompanied minors returned were mainly from Guinea (20 persons), Syria (15 persons), Türkiye, Tunisia, Algeria and Côte d'Ivoire (10 persons each).

Figure 6: Third-country national unaccompanied minors returned following an order to leave,
Q1 2022 - Q4 2023
(persons)
Source: Eurostat (migr_eirtn2)

Source data for tables and graphs

Returns of irregular migrants - quarterly statistics_Q4_2023: tables and figures

Data sources

Statistics on the enforcement of immigration legislation are based on administrative data provided by national authorities in line with the requirements of Regulation (EC) No 862/2007 concerning statistics on migration and international protection. The compilation of these statistics draws on the terms used by the Schengen Borders Code, an EU code on the rules governing the movement of persons across borders (Regulation (EU) No 2016/399); for more information on the Schengen area, see here.

The amendment to Regulation (EC) No 862/2007 adopted in June 2020 led to certain improvements. It increased the frequency, timeliness and the level of detail of the statistics from reference year 2021, including new information on unaccompanied minors who represent a particularly vulnerable group. The new statistics are continuously published in the Eurostat database and are presented in this article.

Statistics on the enforcement of immigration legislation exclude outgoing asylum seekers who are transferred from one Member State to another under the mechanism established by the Dublin Regulation (Regulation (EC) No 1560/2003 and Regulation (EU) No 604/2013); these cases are covered by Dublin statistics.

Note that the data presented in this article are rounded to the nearest five. Due to the rounding, various totals (such as for the EU) may not necessarily match the sum of the values for their components (such as the sum of values for the EU countries).

Data on unaccompanied minors ordered to leave and returned following an order to leave are not available for Portugal. Due to temporary derogations, the data on unaccompanied minors for both collections are not fully available for Czechia, Spain, Cyprus, the Netherlands and Romania. As a result, these EU countries were not included in the calculation of the respective EU totals.

In relation to the statistics presented in this article the following derogations were granted to Member States based on Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/431 of 10 March 2021:
1) For the data on Persons returned following an order to leave:

Transmission of the disaggregations by the assistance received

Czechia for the reference years 2021-2023

Transmission of the disaggregations by the type of return and assistance received

Lithuania for the reference year 2021

Cyprus and Sweden for the reference years 2021-2023

2) For the data on Persons ordered to leave and Persons returned following an order to leave:

Transmission of the disaggregation by unaccompanied minors

Belgium, Lithuania and Portugal for the reference year 2021

Czechia, Spain, Cyprus, the Netherlands and Romania for the reference years 2021-2023

Context

The enforcement of migration law refers to two main subjects: controlling the EU's external borders and the management of unauthorised non-EU citizens found on the territory of an EU Member State. Control of the EU's external borders constitutes one of the pillars for the creation of a freedom, security and justice area. The most noteworthy developments concern a harmonised set of rules governing the movement of persons across borders (the Schengen Borders Code published by the Regulation (EU) No 2016/399); a comprehensive approach for European integrated management at the EU's border and efficient and effective management of border crossing and EU returns policy, respecting fundamental rights, and safeguarding free movement, operated by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Regulation (EU) No 2019/1896); an extensive package on automated border control was introduced (namely the Entry-Exit System established by (namely the Entry-Exist System established by the Regulation (EU) No 2017/2225 and Regulation (EU) No 2017/2226, and the European Traveler Information and Authorisation System established by Regulation (EU) No 2018/1240 and Regulation (EU) No 2018/1241).

The management of irregular migrant populations involves the finding of illegally present persons, the recognition of a decision of an order to leave and the effective return. The main legal instrument, the so-called Return Directive (Return Directive (2008/115/EC)), came into force at the end of 2010 establishing common standards for returning non-EU citizens illegally staying in the EU. The directive provides for clear, transparent, common and fair rules for return and removal, the use of coercive measures, detention and re-entry, while respecting the human rights and fundamental freedoms of the persons concerned. The EU also aims to promote a more effective return system (Policy Document Towards an Operational Strategy for more Effective Returns - COM/2023/45 Final), aimed at achieving, as an operational goal, among others, the improvement of data and statistical evidence-based on return, building a more targeted, planned and efficient return policy, and a common operational response capability.

As regards measuring the enforcement of immigration legislation, the progress made so far on collecting harmonised data results from the adoption of Regulation (EC) No 862/2007, in particular Articles 5 and 7. This regulation aims to support evidence-based decision-making, providing specifications concerning the data that should be submitted by EU countries on the number of non-EU citizens refused entry at the EU's external borders, the number of non-EU citizens apprehended for being illegally present in the EU, and the number of non-EU citizens who were removed from the EU as a result of their presence being unauthorised. Irregular migration remains a phenomenon difficult to quantify, especially during times when an effective and humane 'returns policy' is considered by many to form an essential part of migration policy.

Regulation (EC) No 2020/851 amended Regulation (EC) No 862/2007 aimed at, among other commitments, establishing a framework for a quick response to changing needs regarding statistics on migration and international protection, as well to promoting the data collection on a sub-annual basis in order to respond to the main needs for study, formulation and evaluation of migration and developing human-rights-based policies, and enhancing the knowledge of migration and international protection and migratory movements within European Union countries.

Notes

↑ Statistics on the enforcement of immigration legislation refer to the concept of external borders for all EU countries and EFTA countries, even if some of these are not in the Schengen area. The external borders of the Schengen area do not coincide with the external borders of the EU countries due to: opt-outs for Ireland from the Schengen area; Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania are not yet members of the Schengen area; Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland are part of the Schengen area but are not members of the EU.
↑ Note that due to differences in national administrative procedures in migration law enforcement and methodological aspects related to compilation of data in this area, the number of persons returned in a given quarter shall not be directly related with the number of persons ordered to leave in the same reference period, e.g. a person can be ordered to leave in Q4 of year N, but effectively returned in Q1 of year N+1.