Recommendation 1926 (2010) Final version

Voluntary return programmes: an effective, humane and cost-effective mechanism for returning irregular migrants

Author(s): Parliamentary Assembly

Origin - Assembly debate on 22 June 2010 (22nd Sitting) (see Doc. 12277, report of the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Population, rapporteur: Mrs Türköne). Text adopted by the Assembly on 22 June 2010 (22nd Sitting).

1. The Parliamentary Assembly refers to its Resolution 1742 (2010) on voluntary return programmes: an effective, humane and cost-effective mechanism for returning irregular migrants, and commends the Committee of Ministers for encouraging member states to promote voluntary returns over forced returns in its 20 Guidelines on Forced Returns, adopted in May 2005.

2. The Assembly urges the Committee of Ministers to promote further the use of voluntary return programmes and carry out, with the assistance of one of its intergovernmental committees (such as the European Committee on Migration (CDMG)), further research and monitoring on assisted voluntary return programmes run by member states of the Council of Europe.

3. The Assembly also recommends that the Committee of Ministers invite one of its intergovernmental committees (such as the CDMG) to prepare guidelines on assisted voluntary returns, in co-operation with the International Organization for Migration, in order to promote further the use of this return mechanism in member states of the Council of Europe. These guidelines could usefully complement the 20 Guidelines on Forced Returns of the Committee of Ministers.