Parlement Européen

Bât. Louise Weiss

T 06028

1, avenue du président Schuman

CS 91024

F-67070 STRASBOURG Cedex

For Mr Watson.

Object : Directive proposal on common standards and procedures in Member States for returning illegally staying third-country nationals

Dear Mr Watson,

As you may know, the Directive proposal on common standards and procedures in Member States for returning illegally staying third-country nationals will be voted in plenary session by the European Parliament on the 18^th of June in Strasbourg.

I would like to express my concerns about this Directive proposal which leads to a generalization of detention of migrants for a disproportionate length of time and which introduces a 5 years re-entry ban in Europe once migrants have been deported.

The compromise adopted lastly by the COREPER allows for the detention and removal of minors – even unaccompanied– and for the removal of illegal migrants to a transit country where they don’t have any kind of link.

Following the European appeal “No to the outrageous directive” I consider that this Directive proposal goes against the democratic values in Europe: it is a logic of generalization of migrants’ detention, of stigmatization of irregular migrants and of criminalization of migrants.

I am therefore asking you to take your stand against this proposal and to reject it when it will be submitted to your vote.

Yours sincerely,

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