French MEP Mathilde Androuët (Patriots for Europe) has submitted a written parliamentary question to the European Commission, challenging the allocation of EU funds to mechanisms that assist irregular immigrants and questioning whether such funding undermines return policies. The question, filed on 14 April 2026, targets the Commission's 2021 communication on Directive 2009/52/EC, which promoted access to complaint and aid mechanisms for irregular migrants via NGOs, trade unions, and associations. Androuët argues that while combating employer exploitation is essential, the effectiveness of return decisions is equally critical for the credibility of EU migration policy.
Concrete Demands for Financial Transparency Androuët's question contains three specific requests. First, she asks for precise amounts, broken down by Member State and EU financial instrument, allocated since 2021 to actions directly or indirectly benefiting irregular immigrants under these mechanisms. Second, she demands clarification on measures ensuring that such funding does not contribute to keeping individuals subject to return decisions on Member State territory. Third, she proposes making funding conditional on verifiable results in recovered penalties and effective cooperation with supervisory and return authorities.
Policy Orientation and Expected Follow-Up The question reflects a push for stricter conditionality in EU migration funding, aligning with a sovereignty-focused approach that prioritizes return enforcement over integration assistance for irregular migrants. The Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks; its answer will signal whether it is open to linking funding to return performance or will defend the current approach as necessary for combating exploitation. The outcome may influence future budget allocations and the design of EU migration programs.
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