Fabrice Leggeri· PfE

Confirmed

Nearly 500,000 return decisions are pronounced in the European Union each year

Omissions

• The most recent complete year data available before the session date (2026-01-21) is from 2023, published in the 2024 Migration and Asylum in Europe edition
• The 2025 edition shows slightly lower figures (France 128,000 representing 28%, totaling ~457,000), but this may reflect partial year data
• The figure of ~500,000 refers to 'orders to leave' which is synonymous with return decisions in Eurostat terminology
• The data refers to orders issued, not necessarily enforced returns (actual returns to third countries are significantly lower, at approximately 110,000 in 2024)

Sources

• PrimaryEurostat - Migration and asylum in Europe 2024 editionFrance issued 138,000 return decisions, representing 28% of all orders to leave issued in the EU (calculated total: ~493,000)
• PrimaryEurostat - Migration and asylum in Europe 2025 editionFrance issued 128,000 return decisions, representing 28% of all orders to leave issued in the EU (calculated total: ~457,000)
• PrimaryEurostat - Returns of irregular migrants - quarterly statisticsReferences return decisions as orders to leave; methodology defines return decisions