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Deportation and readmission

Few surprises in latest ‘safe third country’ proposal /// IOM presents dire picture for people returned to Afghanistan /// EUAA update shows very low desire among Syrians to return from Europe /// The UK expands on its visa penalties plan

Few surprises in latest ‘safe third country’ proposal

On 3 December, MEPs in the civil liberties committee will vote on amendments to legislation on the ‘safe third country’ principle. The proposed amendments, presented by rapporteur Lena Düpont (Germany, EPP), broadly reflect the wishes of member states, as seen in comments compiled in previous bulletins and Statewatch analysis:

• States will be allowed to defer to national or EU-level ‘safe’ lists, an agreement/arrangement between the EU or a member state and a third country, or a person’s connection to or transit through a country, as grounds to deny a person a proper examination of their asylum request.
• Unaccompanied minors are not fully protected from deportation, particularly if a child is considered “a danger to national security or public order”.
• Member states will be able to take “all” necessary measures to prevent someone absconding.
• The ‘suspensive effect’ of appeals will not apply unless there are ‘reasonable grounds’ to believe there is a risk of refoulement.

IOM presents dire picture for people returned to Afghanistan

An International Organization for Migration (IOM) presentation on the “Current migratory situation in Afghanistan” (pdf) to a meeting of the External Aspects of Asylum and Migration Working Party (EMWP) on 10 September 2025 shows almost two million Afghans returned to the country in 2025 so far, mainly from neighbours Iran and Pakistan, with over half of those people having been expelled.

Alongside a breakdown of various statistics, the report highlights significant challenges faced by people returned to Afghanistan. The presentation is notable given that the current deportations regulation draft will allow for coordination with the Taliban authorities on deportations, even as the report also shows Europe receives a tiny fraction of people fleeing or displaced from Afghanistan overall.

The report recommends various actions, including expanded migration pathways, regularisation schemes and advocacy against pushbacks and deportations, but only in reference to practices by Afghanistan’s neighbours, not Europe.

The report also suggests “Evidence-based targeting of returnee locations for assistance” and engagement with the Taliban authorities.

EUAA update shows very low desire among Syrians to return from Europe

The same EMWP meeting also saw a presentation from the EU Asylum Agency on Syria. Unsurprisingly, the presentation (pdf) showed a stark decrease in asylum applications and positive decisions in the early months of 2025, after the fall of Bashar al-Assad. It also notes 14 EU+ countries which have suspended asylum proceedings.

Despite the expectation of these 14 governments that many Syrians would be happy to return, research conducted by the EUAA showed that only a third of Syrians in Europe intended to return in the long-term, and only 6% in the short term. Perceived economic and security challenges, as well as the threat of ethnic or religious persecution rank high among Syrians’ concerns.

The EUAA is expected to update its Syria guidance in December 2025.

The UK expands on its visa penalties plan

In a policy paper published on 21 November, the UK government has attempted to explain its plan to reduce irregular arrivals and decrease deportations – both long-stated aims of Keir Starmer’s Labour party government. A key part of the plan is to use visa penalties as leverage in gaining readmission cooperation with third countries:

We expect all countries to take back their citizens who have no right to be in the UK. This includes providing travel documents within a reasonable time period. While many countries are fully co-operative with returns arrangements, others delay doing so for months or even years. Some fail to cooperate at all. […] For those countries that refuse to comply, we must take action.

Where action is deemed necessary, the government writes that it will consider various visa penalties, including a full bar on access to the UK of citizens of the non-cooperative country: “We will not […] be willing to keep open legal routes when countries do not co-operate on returns.”

The powers have, however, been on the books since 2022, after being introduced by the previous Conservative government, and are yet to be used. It remains to be seen whether the Labour administration will follow through on its threats.