In the third quarter of this year, between July, August, and September, there has been a notable shift in the number of people ordered to leave the European Union and in the number of those who got returned to another country.
Recent data provided by the EU’s statistical office, Eurostat, show that during the third quarter of 2023, around 107,135 non-EU citizens received an order to leave the bloc, representing a four per cent decrease compared to the same period last year.
On the other hand, in the third quarter, the number of people successfully returned to their country of origin saw a positive surge.
Standing at 27,095 the number of people returned to another country increased by 12 per cent in the third quarter of this year.
Compared with the same quarter of 2022, the number of non-EU citizens ordered to leave decreased by 4 per cent, while the number of people returned to another country rose by 12 per cent.
Eurostat revealed that in the third quarter of 2023, citizens of Morocco had the highest share of total orders to leave – eight per cent.
They were closely followed by citizens of Syria and Algeria, each accounting for seven per cent of the orders to leave the EU.
Additionally, citizens of Afghanistan, Türkiye, and Georgia comprised 6 per cent and 5 per cent of all the orders to leave in July, August, and September, respectively.
As per returns, Eurostat reveals that the majority, around 81 per cent, of those who got returned following an order to leave were sent to countries outside the EU.
According to Eurostat, among those who were returned to another country, citizens of Georgia held the highest share at 11 per cent.
They were followed by citizens of Albania and Türkiye, with each accounting for seven per cent of all the returns that took place in the third quarter of 2023.
Lastly, citizens of Moldova were also among non-EU citizens who got returned to another country, at four per cent.
Analysing national data, France made the highest number of orders to leave in the third quarter. According to Eurostat, France ordered a total of 29,885 non-EU citizens to leave its territory.
The country was followed by Germany with 11,470 orders to leave and Greece with 9,545 orders to leave.
In terms of returns to another country, Germany led, returning around 4,100 individuals to their country of origin in the third quarter of 2023. Germany was closely followed by Sweden with 2,865 returns and France with 2,850 returns.
