MEPs back new EU travel document to ease return of irregular non-EU residents

The European Parliament's civil liberties committee endorsed on 30 May 2016 the proposal from the European Commission setting up a standard EU travel document. It aims to speed up the process of returning non-EU nationals who stay 'irregularly' in member states without valid passports or identity cards.

Members of this committee highlighted that many EU countries were facing serious difficulties in returning these residents to their home countries in a safe and lawful way.

The committee also debated separate amendments to a legislative proposal to determine an EU list of safe countries of origin. The debate kicked off in the end of 2015.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on a European travel document for the return of illegally staying third-country nationals http://www.europeansources.info/record/proposal-for-a-regulation-of-the-european-parliament-and-of-the-council-on-a-european-travel-document-for-the-return-of-illegally-staying-third-country-nationals/

ESO: Background information: Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council. EU action plan on return http://www.europeansources.info/record/communication-from-the-commission-to-the-european-parliament-and-the-council-eu-action-plan-on-return/

European Parliament: Newsroom: Press Release, 02.06.16: Migration: improving the management and security of EU borders http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/20160530STO29668/

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