Commission Calls Italy & Malta to Comply With the Regulation for Creating an EU Travel Document for Returning Third-Country Nationals

The European Commission has called on Italy and Malta to comply with regulations for a European travel document for the rerun of third-country nationals.

According to a press release issued by the European Commission, the authority has decided to send a letter to the Member States of concern, requesting to correctly apply the EU rules on the establishment of a European travel document for the return of third-country nationals living illegally in Italy and Malta, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.

This Regulation aims to establish a standardised European travel document for return in terms of formatting, security and technical specifications.

The European travel document for return enables the process of returns in terms of readmission agreements or other arrangements to be smoother, as well as reduces the administrative overload on the Member States and third countries.

Italy and Malta have failed to establish and forward such a document. Therefore, the Commission has decided to officially warn Italy and Malta via a letter. The two countries have two months to respond and address the issue by introducing the necessary measures. If the two countries fail to fulfil the requirement, the Commission can issue a reasoned opinion on the matter.

The European Commission has also sent letters of formal notice to other countries such as Germany, Belgium, Greece and Spain, criticising them for failing to comply with EU’s guidelines regarding the returns of illegally staying nationals from countries outside the zone.

“The Directive establishes a common set of rules for the return of third-country nationals who do not fulfil the conditions for entry, stay or residence in a Member State while encouraging the voluntary return of illegal immigrants,” the authority explained.

The Return Directive is a necessary condition for the establishment of standardised EU system rules regarding the illegal stay of third-country nationals in the 27-nation-bloc.

The Directive also consists of the rules that explain the return of third-country nationals who do not meet the criteria to enter, stay or obtain a residence permit from the Member State while always promoting the voluntary return of illegal immigrants.

Furthermore, the Member States should make sure that the ending period of third-country nationals’ illegally staying in the zone has to be carried out in a fair and transparent procedure. In addition, decisions under this Directive must be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and should be decided on objective criteria, and consideration should be more than one illegal stay.

Same as it goes for Malta and Italy, the EU Commission might issue a reasoned opinion to Germany, Belgium, Greece and Spain if the response to the raised arguments isn’t satisfactory.