2025/0059(COD)

Common system for the return of third-country nationals staying illegally in the Union (Return Regulation)

LIBE · Malik Azmani (Renew)

The law establishes a unified framework for returning non-citizens who are staying illegally in the EU back to their home countries. It sets out the procedures and rules that EU countries must follow when removing undocumented migrants from their territory.[AI-Generated]

Adopted — Council gave the final green light 1 October 2026

Record as of 1 October 2026 — the most recent action in the official record. Status can lag; each step below carries its own date.

1 October 2026 Adopted — Council gave the final green light
What's next: Signature by the Parliament and Council presidents, then publication in the Official Journal. It enters into force on the date the act sets — by default the 20th day after publication.
17 June 2026 Parliament adopted its 1st-reading position (418-218, 30 abstentions)
2 more actions
1. 17 June 2026 Results of vote in Parliament
2. 16 June 2026 Debate in Parliament
15 June 2026 Lead committee approved the trilogue deal
6 more actions
1. 10 June 2026 Endorsement of the provisional agreement by Coreper
2. 3 June 2026 Deliberations in Coreper
3. 27 May 2026 Deliberations in Coreper
4. 18 May 2026 Deliberations in Coreper
5. 5 May 2026 Deliberations in Council working party
6. 15 April 2026 Deliberations in Council working party
26 March 2026 Committee decision to enter into interinstitutional negotiations confirmed by plenary (Rule 72 - vote)
1 more action
1. 26 March 2026 Results of vote in Parliament
12 March 2026 Committee decision to enter into interinstitutional negotiations announced in plenary (Rule 72)
1 more action
1. 10 March 2026 Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading
9 March 2026 Committee decision to open interinstitutional negotiations with report adopted in committee
9 March 2026 Lead committee adopted its report
21 more actions
1. 5 December 2025 Deliberations in Coreper
2. 3 December 2025 Deliberations in Coreper
3. 20 November 2025 Deliberations in Council working party
4. 19 November 2025 Deliberations in Council working party
5. 19 November 2025 Deliberations in Coreper
6. 14 November 2025 Deliberations in Council working party
7. 9 October 2025 Deliberations in Council working party
8. 8 October 2025 Deliberations in Coreper
9. 25 September 2025 Deliberations in Council working party
10. 18 September 2025 European Economic and Social Committee opinion
11. 4 September 2025 Deliberations in Council working party
12. 16 July 2025 Deliberations in Council working party
13. 9 July 2025 Deliberations in Council working party
14. 8 July 2025 Deliberations in Council working party
15. 23 June 2025 Deliberations in Council working party
16. 16 June 2025 Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading
17. 5 June 2025 Deliberations in Council working party
18. 4 June 2025 Deliberations in Council working party
19. 14 May 2025 Deliberations in Council working party
20. 13 May 2025 Deliberations in Council working party
21. 23 April 2025 Deliberations in Council working party
11 March 2025 New legislative proposal

This path starts where the file does — the legislative proposal in the official record. Routine procedural steps sit in the “more actions” rows above rather than on the main line.

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