On 11 March 2025, Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, and Magnus Brunner, European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, held a press conference in Strasbourg, France, on the new Common European System to Returns. This new legal framework on returns was a key element to complement the Pact on Migration and Asylum, which was adopted in 2024 and set out a comprehensive approach to migration. During the press conference, Henna Virkkunen discussed a proposal adopted to reform the EU’s return system for managing irregular migration. The proposal aimed to create a single, fair, and effective return process with consistent rules across Member States. It included stronger measures to prevent absconding, stricter obligations for returnees, and improved human rights safeguards. For his part, Magnus Brunner stressed that the current system, where only 20% of those ordered to leave the country actually did so, was unsustainable. The new proposal aimed to establish clear procedures and rights for returnees, as well as obligations to cooperate. It also addressed security risks and included measures for readmission cooperation with third countries. The reform sought to ensure that return decisions were effectively implemented, to strengthen confidence in migration policies and to combat the smuggling of migrants.  This video shows the entire press conference.