The European Parliament’s Committee for Civil Liberties and Home Affairs has given the green light to the latest EU proposal on the establishment of a common travel document to speed up the repatriation of illegally-staying non-EU nationals.

Following the approval of the new legislation Member of the European Parliament Miriam Dalli - one of the Parliament’s negotiators on the legislation - emphasised that the document may serve to tackle one of the EU’s major obstacles in migration policy when failed asylum seekers lack the adequate documents.

Together with a team of negotiators on behalf of the European Parliament Dalli, who was appointed as the Socialists and Democrat’s (S&D) negotiator on the legislation, emphasized on the relevance of such a document since many EU countries currently face serious difficulties when repatriating migrants back to their home countries due to the fact that the documents used to facilitate the voyage are not recognised by the countries of return.

MEP Dalli insisted that low enforcement-rates of return decisions in Europe is detrimental to the credibility and legitimacy of the Euorpean asylum and immigration. “While the common European travel document for the return of illegally staying third-country nationals is no magic solution, however it is one step in the right direction,” she stated.

Dr Dalli, said that a single, unified EU document can be viewed as a diplomatic tool, especially for smaller member states who might not have strong ties with certain countries of origin. This draft legislation will provide all Member States with one unified returns travel document she added.

On behalf of the S&D, MEP Dalli tabled a total of 19 amendments focusing on the reduction of bureaucracy and the safeguarding of fundamental rights. The proposal, which forms part of the European Commission’s Agenda on Migration, also produces a common format for the European travel document.