Unpacking EU Readmission and Return Policy with non-EU Countries

“In his outstanding book, Philipp Stutz thoroughly examines the conditions that govern cooperation and non-cooperation between the EU and non-EU countries on readmission and return issues. Stutz's use of a set-theoretic approach is both a methodological innovation and a vital scholarly contribution, as it enables a more comprehensive and systematic analysis that explains cooperation and geographical variation. What truly sets this book apart is also the insightful assessment of the policy claims regarding 'effectiveness', compelling academics, practitioners, and policymakers to consider a more realistic perspective on what return does - and does not - represent and explain.” --Zeynep Sahin Mencutek, Bonn International Centre for Conflict Studies, Germany “Philipp Stutz’s Unpacking EU Return Migration Policy offers a rigorous and thought-provoking analysis of the EU's complex and often inconsistent approach to cooperation on readmission with non-EU countries. His critical examination of the EU's reliance on coercion and conditionalities, coupled with his innovative handling of scarce and unreliable data, makes this book an essential read for anyone seeking to understand the intricacies of European migration governance and its real-world implications.” --Jean-Pierre Cassarino, College of Europe, Poland / Institut de Recherche sur le Maghreb Contemporain, Tunisia This book offers an in-depth exploration of the European Union's cooperation with non-EU countries on readmission and return, as central components of EU migration policy. It delves into the differences between formal and informal agreements and the factors influencing return rates, critically assessing the ‘effectiveness’ of cooperation in this contentious policy field. Through a comparative analysis of 57 non-EU countries, the book enhances our understanding of why certain countries cooperate on readmission and/or return. Countries geographically closer to the EU are more dependent and, thus, conclude readmission agreements more often. For countries in Africa and Asia, EU incentives and pressure play a bigger role and influence the cooperation together with domestic administrative capacities and bilateral readmission agreements and closer existing relations. Formal or informal readmission cooperation has a limited impact on return rates with non-EU countries beyond the Eastern neighbourhood. This comprehensive work is an essential reading for academics, policymakers, and policy advocates interested in EU external migration cooperation and the broader dynamics of international migration policy. Philipp Stutz is a researcher at the Brussels School of Governance, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Belgium. His research focuses on EU migration policy, externalisation and cooperation with non-EU countries, and migration data and statistics.