MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Import tariffs as a means of getting countries of origin to take back their nationals who do not have residency status in the EU – E-000349/2025(ASW)

Enhancing return and readmission cooperation is a priority for the EU and its Member States. Readmission of own nationals is an established norm of customary international law. In this spirit, the Commission expects partners to cooperate on readmission, which is necessary for the effective prevention of irregular migration.

The European Council has repeatedly called for determined action at all levels to facilitate, increase and speed up returns from the EU, using all relevant EU policies and tools, including diplomacy, development, trade and visas.

To this end, the Commission leverages all available instruments in formulating the most effective policy mix on a case-by-case basis, making sure that the whole toolbox is used in a strategic, coordinated and inter-linked way.

It should be recalled that the proposal for the new generalised scheme of preferences (2021)[1] introduced the lack of cooperation on readmission as one of the grounds to withdraw trade preferences from the beneficiary countries.

• [1] Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on applying a generalised scheme of tariff preferences and repealing Regulation (EU) No 978/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council, COM/2021/579 final.