After protracted negotiations, in June 2008, agreement between the European Parliament and the Council cleared the way for the adoption of the Directive setting out common standards and procedures in the Member States for returning irregularly staying third country nationals (the Returns Directive). While its impact in terms of harmonising national legal frameworks can be questioned, from the Member States' point of view the agreed standards will underpin their common efforts at removing a higher number of irregular immigrants. From the point of view of immigrants, it will mean longer pre-removal detention periods and a ban on re-entering legally the Union's territory for the foreseeable future.
