Humane and Effective Return Governance: Evidence, Gaps and Pathways for the European Union and its Member States

This policy brief synthesises findings from the Horizon Europe project GAPs, a three‑year interdisciplinary study (2023–2026) conducted in 11 countries by 17 partner institutions and more than 50 researchers. EU return governance is facing an enduring implementation gap: orders to leave remain high, while effective returns and sustainable reintegration outcomes remain limited. GAPs evidence indicates that addressing this gap cannot be achieved through “more enforcement” alone; it requires…

Return Infrastructures, Return Governance, Evidence Gaps PathwaysInside GAPsJanuary 30, 2026SPIA

Five Shades of Grey: Policy and Practice in Return Migration

This policy brief is the result of a meticulous analysis of the key findings in country dossiers (Germany,Greece, Poland, Sweden, and the Netherlands) and the Horizon Europe GAPs project - WP2 Comparative Report on Legal and Policy Infrastructures of Returns in the EU. The country dossiers systematically examine regulations, policies, and statistics on the return and readmission in each country, relying on legislative documents, reports, and other relevant secondary...

Infrastructure PoliciesInside GAPsSeptember 17, 2024SPIA

Policy Briefs

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