On 26 March 2026, the European Parliament adopted its first reading position on the new EU Return Regulation, with 389 votes in favour, 206 against and 32 abstentions. The text must now undergo inter-institutional negotiations with the EU Council, the so-called trilogue, before final adoption. With June 2026 set as the political deadline for the full application of the Pact on Migration and Asylum, the negotiating window remains open. ECCAR intends to make the voice of its member cities heard at this crucial stage, so that the concerns of local governments are brought to the table of the inter-institutional negotiations.
The Board of the European Coalition of Cities against Racism (ECCAR) expresses its deep concern about the approval by the European Parliament of its first reading position on the new EU Return Regulation.
The measures foreseen in this regulation mark a dangerous shift in the European approach to migration. The expansion of detention, the externalisation of people outside European territory, and the growing emphasis on surveillance, control, and expulsion over rights and dignity undermine the very values on which the European Union is founded. As a network of cities, we reaffirm our collective commitment: We will not let Europe go backwards.1
As a network of cities committed to combating racism, antisemitism and other intersecting forms of discrimination, ECCAR cannot remain silent in the face of measures that risk reinforcing structural racism and legitimising practices that disproportionately affect racialised, migrant, and refugee communities. Structural and institutional racism often manifests in policies and practices that, while appearing neutral particularly disadvantage these groups.2 This regulation is a case in point, and its implementation must ensure full compliance with the principle of non-discrimination, including safeguards against racial profiling and other discriminatory treatment based on nationality, ethnicity, racialisation, or migration status.3
This does not simply concern migration policy. It concerns the kind of Europe we want to build. A Europe that responds to human mobility through fear, punishment, and exclusion is a Europe that moves ever further from democracy, equality, and human rights. In a time of rising anti-democratic movements, and growing societal polarisation, we stand firm in our commitment to safeguarding human rights and dignity for all.4
Public institutions have a responsibility not to fuel hateful narratives or legitimise discriminatory practices, and information campaigns directed at host societies must counter disinformation, prejudice, and all forms of racism and other related forms of discrimination.5
Cities are on the frontline of inclusion. As democratic institutions, rule-makers, employers, service providers, and the level of governance closest to the people, cities have a pivotal role in ensuring human rights as well as participation and equal opportunities for all residents.6
Every day, local governments work to guarantee coexistence, equal opportunities, and dignity for all, regardless of origin or administrative status. We know from experience that detention (centres), deportation schemes, and the externalisation of responsibility do not create social cohesion. Cohesion is built through rights, participation, equal access to services, and inclusive local policies grounded in trust and dignity. Local and regional authorities play a central role in responding to migration-related challenges and must therefore be recognised as essential actors in shaping sustainable and rights-based approaches.7
Citizen participation and empowerment must be the cornerstones of this approach, ensuring that those most affected, including migrant and refugee communities, have a direct voice in shaping the policies that concern them.8
ECCAR therefore:
- Rejects any measure that expands the detention of migrants and refugees or enables their transfer beyond European territory, reaffirming that such measures jeopardise the safety of discriminated groups in our cities.9
- Warns of the racist and discriminatory impact that these measures may have, particularly on racialised communities, and calls on member cities to monitor and document this impact through equality data collection: cities cannot design effective policies or track progress without accurate and comprehensive data.10
- Calls on European institutions and Member States to ensure that migration policies are fully aligned with human rights, international law and the principle of non-discrimination, underlining that these principles also apply at Europe’s external borders.11
- Reaffirms that the network's member cities must be recognised as key actors in shaping migration policies based on inclusion, dignity and coexistence, and urges the EU to guarantee local and regional authorities easier and more direct access to EU funding for integration and inclusion, developing genuine multi-level governance frameworks.12
- Calls on the European Parliament and the Council to use the trilogue phase to correct the most critical provisions of the text, in particular those relating to detention, externalisation and the discriminatory impact on racialised communities, ensuring that the final text is fully consistent with the founding values of the European Union.
- Commits to continuing to work with member cities, civil society, and international partners to oppose racism and defend a Europe founded on human rights and equality, maintaining and strengthening the continuous cooperation established among all stakeholders.13
At a time when narratives that violate human rights and promote extremism are gaining ground across Europe, public institutions have a responsibility not to normalise them. Europe cannot fight racism while adopting policies that reproduce exclusion and discrimination. Together, we build cities for all.14
The ECCAR Board therefore calls for a Europe that upholds human rights, solidarity, and dignity in practice.
Notes
1 ECCAR General Conference Heidelberg 2024 : Conclusions: "We, the members of the European Coalition of Cities against Racism (ECCAR) [...] reaffirm our collective dedication to ensuring that Europe's cities remain inclusive, resilient, and committed to fighting racism and all forms of discrimination." The document is titled: "We won't let Europe go backwards!"
2 ECCAR General Conference Heidelberg 2024 : Conclusions: "Structural and institutional racism is deeply ingrained in the very systems that govern cities [...]. These forms of racism often manifest in policies, practices, and social norms that, while appearing neutral, disproportionately disadvantage racialised groups."
3 European Committee of the Regions, Opinion on the New Pact on Migration and Asylum (COR-2020-04843), March 2021: "[Border procedures] must be in keeping with European values and the rule of law and ensure that there is no discrimination on grounds of nationality [...] discriminatory practices such as racial profiling are prevented."
4 ECCAR General Conference Heidelberg 2024 : Conclusions: "In a time of rising political extremism, anti-democratic movements, and growing societal polarisation, we stand firm in our commitment to safeguarding human rights and dignity for all."
5 European Committee of the Regions, Opinion on the New Pact on Migration and Asylum (COR-2020-04843), March 2021: "[The CoR] underlines the importance of combating disinformation on integration and migration by means of concrete facts and figures in order to counter discrimination, prejudice, racism and xenophobia [...] urges the Commission to call for humanist communications and information campaigns aimed at the host societies."
6 ECCAR General Conference Heidelberg 2024 : Conclusions: "We recognise that cities, as democratic institutions, rule-makers, employers, service providers, contractors and the first line of governance, have a pivotal role in ensuring human rights, inclusivity, and equity."
7 European Committee of the Regions, Opinion on the New Pact on Migration and Asylum (COR-2020-04843), March 2021: "Successful crisis management begins at local and regional level in particular, and that coordination with local and regional authorities should therefore be a top priority."
8 ECCAR General Conference Heidelberg 2024 : Conclusions: "Citizen participation and empowerment must be cornerstones of urban governance, ensuring policies that respond to the lived experiences of those most affected by racism."
9 ECCAR General Conference Heidelberg 2024 : Conclusions: "These movements fuel hateful narratives that incite discriminatory behaviour, spread hate, misinformation, assaults or even violence, jeopardising the safety of discriminated groups in our cities."
10 ECCAR General Conference Heidelberg 2024 : Conclusions: "Cities cannot design effective policies or track progress without accurate and comprehensive data."
11 European Committee of the Regions, Opinion on the New Pact on Migration and Asylum (COR-2020-04843), March 2021: "[The CoR] underlines the importance of human rights and the rule of law [...] principles which also apply at the external borders of Europe."
12 European Committee of the Regions, Opinion on the New Pact on Migration and Asylum (COR-2020-04843), March 2021: "[The CoR] stresses the need for easier, clearer access for local and regional authorities, including at macro-regional level, to EU funding for integration and inclusion."
13 ECCAR General Conference Heidelberg 2024 : Conclusions: "We are committed to maintaining and enhancing the regular and continuous cooperation established between all stakeholders."
14 ECCAR General Conference Heidelberg 2024 : Conclusions: "Together, we build cities for us all."
