"Return" Regulation: "What's Being Discussed in the European Parliament Isn't a Technical Reform, It's a Political and Moral Shift"

European Union - Ekhbary News Agency

"Return" Regulation: "What's Being Discussed in the European Parliament Isn't a Technical Reform, It's a Political and Moral Shift"

The compromise surrounding the proposed "Return" regulation, aimed at establishing a common system for the return of individuals residing irregularly within the European Union, is drawing sharp criticism for its perceived alignment with far-right ideologies. Green Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Mélissa Camara, in an opinion piece published by Le Monde, argues that this agreement is not merely a technical adjustment but a profound political and moral shift, signaling a dangerous normalization of far-right ideas within the heart of the EU's institutions.

Camara contends that European politics is currently at a critical juncture, where the influence of the far-right appears to be growing, with its problematic ideology permeating policy discussions. She points to the upcoming vote on the "Return" regulation on March 9th, which seeks to create a harmonized framework for repatriating third-country nationals staying irregularly in the EU. However, beneath the surface of parliamentary compromises, a deeply concerning evolution is taking shape: the normalization within European institutions of ideas that the far-right has championed for years. These include proposals for detention centers for irregular migrants located outside of Europe, the detention of children for migration-related reasons, and the further externalization of return and asylum processing procedures to remote locations, thousands of kilometers away from the EU's borders, thereby externalizing European responsibility.

The core of Camara's critique is that the debates occurring on the floor of the European Parliament transcend technical reform. She asserts they represent a fundamental political and moral reorientation. For a long time, centrist and conservative parties positioned themselves as a bulwark against the far-right. However, by increasingly adopting the far-right's themes, language, and policy obsessions, this protective barrier has fractured. What was once considered unacceptable has gradually become normalized. Camara emphasizes that European history offers a stark lesson: when fear becomes the driving force behind public policy, fundamental rights are invariably the first to be eroded.

The very foundation of the European project was built on an inverse promise. Emerging from the catastrophes of the 20th century, Europe sought to rebuild itself on a simple yet powerful idea: human dignity must be central to public action. Today, this promise appears to be faltering. Camara questions the direction being taken by MEPs from liberal, conservative, and far-right groups, whose proposed policies, set for a vote on March 9th, suggest that detaining children for administrative reasons is acceptable, sending individuals to detention centers outside European territory where human rights are not respected is normal, and building ever more robust expulsion mechanisms is the way forward.

This legislative development raises profound questions about the identity and future trajectory of the European Union. Are we witnessing a slide towards policies driven by fear and exclusion, or is there still an opportunity to course-correct and reaffirm the humanistic values that Europe has long espoused? The debate surrounding the "Return" regulation is not merely a technical matter of migration management; it is a crucial test of the EU's commitment to its foundational principles. Ignoring the warnings from voices like Mélissa Camara risks severe repercussions for fundamental rights and the EU's global standing.

Ekhbary News Agency