Europe Ties Trade Benefits to Re-Migration

The Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) announced updates 2 days ago with a major new implication for migration. Historically, the GSP is how the EU gives developing countries easier access to its market by lowering or removing import duties. The idea is to help these countries grow their economies, create jobs, and reduce poverty.

However, the latest announcement explicitly ties access to EU markets to a country's willingness to cooperate with returning their illegal nationals. Countries that do not cooperate could lose benefits after a step-by-step process of dialogue, visa measures, and finally withdrawal.

Here's the exact text:

"Readmission

As a part of the work to create a more fair and effective approach to migration, the co-legislators also agreed that GSP preferences may be withdrawn if a beneficiary country does not co-operate with the EU on the readmission of their own nationals.

Henceforth the Commission will monitor compliance with readmission obligations and have the possibility to act. To ensure transparency, the Commission will have to inform the Parliament and the Council when such decisions are made."

As I've written before, the EU's return rate is absolutely abysmal. Overall, only 1 in 5 third country nationals ordered to leave actually returned. Tying EU market access to return assistance is a strong bid to get those numbers up.

I'm skeptical on the 'lose benefits' framework, mainly the speed and nature of what they're broadly referring to as dialogue:

• "dialogue" occurs over 12 months (what does that actually entail)
• visas are removed for elites and diplomats (this is an effective tool if actually implemented)
• withdrawal

But I'll keep y'all updated on return rate impacts when the next ICMPD update drops.