Decision
Common system for the return of third-country nationals staying illegally in the Union (Return Regulation)
- Effect
- Negotiating mandate approved
- Result
- 389 for · 206 against · 32 abstained roll call
- Date
- 26 March 2026, 11:06
- Kind
- New EU law · 1st reading
More facts (10)
- Margin
- by a large majority
- Counts are for
- the decision to open negotiations with the Council
- Dossier
- 2025/0059(COD)
- Source
- Committee report by Malik Azmani
- Topics
- Migration & asylum Assigned by a model, not checked by hand.
- Votes
- 1 vote · 1 roll call
- Requested by
- The Left (1 roll call) · Greens (1 roll call) · S&D (1 roll call) · EPP (1 roll call)
- Sitting
- Thursday 26 March 2026
- Final vote
- 189597
Result
The final vote and what it means for this kind of decision.
Final vote: 389 for, 206 against, 32 abstained (roll call).
Negotiating mandate approved.
Parliament let its committee open negotiations with the Council on the basis of the committee’s report.
Backed by EPP, ECR, Patriots and ESN; opposed by The Left, Greens, S&D and Renew.
Groups
| Group | For | Against | Abst. | No vote | Majority line | Clear line | Cohesion | Bar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Left | For 0 | Against 37 | Abst. 0 | No vote 9 of 46 | Majority line Against | Clear line Against | Cohesion 1.00 | |
| Greens | For 0 | Against 45 | Abst. 1 | No vote 7 of 53 | Majority line Against | Clear line Against | Cohesion 0.97 | |
| S&D | For 7 | Against 85 | Abst. 6 | No vote 37 of 135 | Majority line Against | Clear line Against | Cohesion 0.80 | |
| Renew | For 12 | Against 31 | Abst. 22 | No vote 12 of 77 | Majority line Against | Clear line Divided | Cohesion 0.22 | |
| EPP | For 165 | Against 6 | Abst. 2 | No vote 11 of 184 | Majority line For | Clear line For | Cohesion 0.93 | |
| ECR | For 73 | Against 0 | Abst. 0 | No vote 8 of 81 | Majority line For | Clear line For | Cohesion 1.00 | |
| Patriots | For 83 | Against 0 | Abst. 0 | No vote 2 of 85 | Majority line For | Clear line For | Cohesion 1.00 | |
| ESN | For 26 | Against 0 | Abst. 0 | No vote 1 of 27 | Majority line For | Clear line For | Cohesion 1.00 | |
| No group | For 23 | Against 2 | Abst. 1 | No vote 4 of 30 | Majority line — | Clear line No line | Cohesion — |
Members who changed group are counted in the group of the day: Branko GRIMS changed group, Elena YONCHEVA changed group, Nikola BARTŮŠEK changed group, Nikolas FARANTOURIS changed group, Pina PICIERNO changed group, Taner KABILOV changed group.
Voted against their group, 22
Members who voted otherwise than a clear line (at least two thirds of the votes cast, at least 10 members voting) of the group they sat in that day. A group without a clear line is divided and not counted.
Greens line Against · 1 abstained of 46 who voted
Abstained (1)
- Mārtiņš STAĶIS Latvia
S&D line Against · 7 voted for, 6 abstained of 98 who voted
Voted for (7)
- Alex AGIUS SALIBA Malta
- Christel SCHALDEMOSE Denmark
- Daniel ATTARD Malta
- Marianne VIND Denmark
- Niels FUGLSANG Denmark
- Nils UŠAKOVS Latvia
- Thomas BAJADA Malta
Abstained (6)
- Adnan DIBRANI Sweden
- Evin INCIR Sweden
- Heléne FRITZON Sweden
- Johan DANIELSSON Sweden
- Sofie ERIKSSON Sweden
- Vasile DÎNCU Romania
EPP line For · 6 voted against, 2 abstained of 173 who voted
Voted against (6)
- Isabel WISELER-LIMA Luxembourg
- Manuela RIPA Germany
- Maria WALSH Ireland
- Martine KEMP Luxembourg
- Pascal ARIMONT Belgium
- Sirpa PIETIKÄINEN Finland
Abstained (2)
- Liesbet SOMMEN Belgium
- Wouter BEKE Belgium
Countries
The final vote by national delegation.
Votes by country (27 delegations)
| Country | For | Against | Abst. | No vote | Cohesion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | 11 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0.37 |
| Belgium | 5 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 0.40 |
| Bulgaria | 11 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0.60 |
| Cyprus | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — |
| Czechia | 20 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.93 |
| Germany | 50 | 37 | 0 | 8 | 0.36 |
| Denmark | 9 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0.40 |
| Estonia | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Spain | 30 | 23 | 0 | 7 | 0.35 |
| Finland | 4 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 0.42 |
| France | 41 | 26 | 5 | 9 | 0.35 |
| Greece | 10 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 0.38 |
| Croatia | 7 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0.55 |
| Hungary | 17 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1.00 |
| Ireland | 3 | 5 | 0 | 6 | — |
| Italy | 39 | 29 | 0 | 8 | 0.36 |
| Lithuania | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — |
| Luxembourg | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | — |
| Latvia | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — |
| Malta | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | — |
| Netherlands | 16 | 11 | 1 | 3 | 0.36 |
| Poland | 44 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 0.88 |
| Portugal | 9 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 0.29 |
| Romania | 17 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 0.71 |
| Sweden | 7 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 0.08 |
| Slovenia | 5 | 3 | 0 | 1 | — |
| Slovakia | 9 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0.54 |
Members
Each member’s recorded position on the final roll call, in the group they sat in that day. Filter by country, group, position or name.
Debate speakers and how they voted
| Member | Group | Speeches | Spoke | Final vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Javi LÓPEZ Spain | S&D | Speeches3 | 17 Jun 2026 (verbatim report, official site) | Against |
| Malik AZMANI Netherlands | Renew | Speeches2 | 16 Jun 2026 (verbatim report, official site) | Abstained |
| Charlie WEIMERS Sweden | ECR | Speeches1 | 16 Jun 2026 (verbatim report, official site) · for the group | For |
| Joachim Stanisław BRUDZIŃSKI Poland | ECR | Speeches1 | 16 Jun 2026 (verbatim report, official site) | For |
| François-Xavier BELLAMY France | EPP | Speeches1 | 16 Jun 2026 (verbatim report, official site) · for the group | For |
| Katri KULMUNI Finland | Renew | Speeches1 | 16 Jun 2026 (verbatim report, official site) | No vote recorded |
Show the other 11 speakers
All votes on this decision, 1
| No. | Vote | Recorded | Result | Requested by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Decision to open negotiations with the Council Final vote A10-0048/2026 – Malik Azmani – Decision to enter into interinstitutional negotiations | Roll call | 389 for, 206 against, 32 abstained Adopted |
Roll calls requested by The Left, Greens, S&D, EPP.
Text
The text voted on.
AI: What this vote decides Written by AI from the official text — check the source
Parliament adopted its position on a proposed EU law setting up a common system for returning third-country nationals staying illegally in the Union.
The law would replace existing EU rules on returns and introduce a single procedure for return and readmission across member states.
Parliament asks the Commission to refer the matter back if it substantially amends its proposal, and forwards its position to the Council and national parliaments.
AI: The text in short Written by AI from the official text — check the source
Parliament's amended version of the proposed regulation establishes a common EU system for returning third-country nationals staying illegally, replacing the 2008 Return Directive and related acts.
Dossier
Where the dossier stands and its other decisions in plenary.
2025/0059(COD) · Ordinary legislative procedure
Establishing a common system for the return of third-country nationals staying illegally in the Union, and repealing Directive 2008/115/EC of the European Parliament and the Council, Council Directive 2001/40/EC and Council Decision 2004/191/EC
Parliament approved the text agreed with the Council on 17 June 2026. The Council must now adopt it formally before it is published as law.
Show the 6 steps of the dossier
- Referred to committee · 16 June 2025 (done)
- Committee work · Report adopted 9 March 2026 (done)
- Tabled for plenary · 10 March 2026 (done)
- Negotiations with the Council · Deal approved in committee 15 June 2026 (done)
- Plenary vote · Adopted 17 June 2026 (done)
- Published as law (to come)
Lead committee: LIBE · Rapporteur: Malik AZMANI (Renew)
Other decisions on this dossier
Connections
What this decision touches: the procedural chain, the same text, running issues, votes that split the chamber the same way.
Show 21 connections: Other decisions on this dossier · Running issue: Irregular migration to EU · Running issue: Migration and asylum pact · Other decisions of the part-session on LIBE dossiers · Final votes that split the chamber the same way
Other decisions on this dossier
- Decision Common system for the return of third-country nationals staying illegally in the Union (Return Regulation) New EU law · report by Malik Azmani 17 Jun 2026 Passed
Running issue: Irregular migration to EU
- Issue Irregular migration to EU Running issue · Crisis 17 Sept 2026
- Decision The recent hybrid attacks and instrumentalisation of migrants in Ceuta and the need for a coordinated response to protect EU’s external borders Resolution · motion for a resolution 17 Sept 2026 Adopted
- Decision Common system for the return of third-country nationals staying illegally in the Union (Return Regulation) New EU law · report by Malik Azmani 17 Jun 2026 Passed
- Decision Reinforcing development cooperation to address irregular population movements and their root causes in partner countries Resolution · report by Lukas Mandl 16 Jun 2026 Adopted
- Decision EU-Bosnia and Herzegovina Agreement on operational activities carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency in Bosnia and Herzegovina International agreement · report by Jaroslav Bžoch 21 Jan 2026 Consent given
- Decision Application of the ‘safe third country’ concept New EU law · report by Lena Düpont 17 Dec 2025 Negotiating mandate approved
Running issue: Migration and asylum pact
- Issue Migration and asylum pact Running issue · EU initiative 17 Sept 2026
- Decision The recent hybrid attacks and instrumentalisation of migrants in Ceuta and the need for a coordinated response to protect EU’s external borders Resolution · motion for a resolution 17 Sept 2026 Adopted
- Decision Common system for the return of third-country nationals staying illegally in the Union (Return Regulation) New EU law · report by Malik Azmani 17 Jun 2026 Passed
- Decision Reinforcing development cooperation to address irregular population movements and their root causes in partner countries Resolution · report by Lukas Mandl 16 Jun 2026 Adopted
- Decision Application of the ‘safe third country’ concept New EU law · report by Lena Düpont 10 Feb 2026 Passed
- Decision Establishment of a list of safe countries of origin at Union level New EU law · report by Alessandro Ciriani 10 Feb 2026 Passed
Other decisions of the part-session on LIBE dossiers
- Decision Combating corruption New EU law · report by Raquel García Hermida-Van Der Walle 26 Mar 2026 Passed
- Decision Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2021/1232 as regards the extension of its period of application New EU law · report by Birgit Sippel 26 Mar 2026 Failed
- Decision Simplification of the implementation of harmonised rules on artificial intelligence (Digital Omnibus on AI) New EU law · report by Arba Kokalari, Michael McNamara 26 Mar 2026 Passed
Final votes that split the chamber the same way
- Decision Application of the ‘safe third country’ concept New EU law · report by Lena Düpont 17 Dec 2025 Negotiating mandate approved
- Decision Common system for the return of third-country nationals staying illegally in the Union (Return Regulation) New EU law · report by Malik Azmani 17 Jun 2026 Passed
- Decision Establishment of a list of safe countries of origin at Union level New EU law · report by Alessandro Ciriani 17 Dec 2025 Negotiating mandate approved
- Decision Application of the ‘safe third country’ concept New EU law · report by Lena Düpont 10 Feb 2026 Passed
- Decision Certain corporate sustainability reporting and due diligence requirements New EU law · report by Jörgen Warborn 13 Nov 2025 Passed
Sources & citation
Where the facts on this page come from, and how to cite it.
- Official sources
- Data source
- Licensed CC BY 4.0.
- Retrieved
- 25 September 2026
Cite as
European Parliament (2026). “Common system for the return of third-country nationals staying illegally in the Union (Return Regulation)”. Decision, 26 March 2026. votingId 189597, document A-10-2026-0048, reference 2025/0059(COD). EU Parl Watch Research. https://news.eu-parl.st-solutions.dev/decisions/2026-03-26/1 (retrieved 25 September 2026). Official sources: Roll-call votes, sitting of 26 March 2026 (European Parliament), https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/PV-10-2026-03-26-RCV_EN.html; Results of votes, sitting of 26 March 2026 (European Parliament), https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/PV-10-2026-03-26-VOT_EN.html. Data: EP Open Data API: decisions of the sitting MTG-PL-2026-03-26, https://data.europarl.europa.eu/api/v2/meetings/MTG-PL-2026-03-26/decisions?format=application%2Fld%2Bjson (CC BY 4.0).
BibTeX
@misc{epw-decision-2026-03-26-1,
author = {{European Parliament}},
title = {{Common system for the return of third-country nationals staying illegally in the Union (Return Regulation)}},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-03-26},
howpublished = {\url{https://news.eu-parl.st-solutions.dev/decisions/2026-03-26/1}},
url = {https://news.eu-parl.st-solutions.dev/decisions/2026-03-26/1},
urldate = {2026-09-25},
publisher = {EU Parl Watch Research},
note = {Decision. votingId 189597, document A-10-2026-0048, reference 2025/0059(COD). Official source: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/PV-10-2026-03-26-RCV\_EN.html, https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/PV-10-2026-03-26-VOT\_EN.html. Data: EP Open Data API: decisions of the sitting MTG-PL-2026-03-26 (CC BY 4.0)}
}