Inventory of Existing Alternative to Return Policies

In the framework of the FAiR project, the University of Milan is leading the implementation of the project's Work Package 6 (WP6), which aims to illustrate and assess promising alternatives to return policies in 11 EU+ countries where return is not feasible due to various reasons. To that end, we combined intensive desk research on countries’ existing policies, with focus groups and key informant interviews with public and private stakeholders, mainly from civil society organisations (CSOs). in this working paper, we map alternatives to return policies in 11 EU+ countries and assess their political and administrative benefits and disadvantages, taking into consideration aspects such as limitations to public acceptance, human rights, efficiency of immigration enforcement, and better immigration incorporation. Relying on the data collected from focus groups and interviews with key experts, we also analyse how irregularity is represented by civil society organisations that deal with irregular migrants on a daily basis and by policy-makers.