1New EU laws·decision 1 of 22 on Thursday, 26 March 2026
Common system for the return of third-country nationals staying illegally in the Union (Return Regulation)
Committee report by Malik Azmani · Parliament’s first vote on a proposed EU law. It sets Parliament’s position for negotiations with the Council. · voted at 11:06
Parliament’s position on proposed laws. It usually needs to agree with the Council before a law is final.
Adoptedby a large majority389 for · 206 against · 32 abstained (62 % in favour)Migration & asylumReturns
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.
Roll calls requested by The Left, Verts/ALE, S&D, PPE.
One day of voting in plenary. Each subject is a report, resolution, agreement or objection; they are grouped by kind of decision, and each group says what “adopted” means there.
The ballots
Members vote on amendments and on parts of the text first, then on the text as a whole. That final, decisive vote is the result shown at the top of each subject.
Who voted how
Only roll-call votes record each Member’s vote — open one for every name and the breakdown by group. A show of hands records the outcome only.
Document & procedure
Each subject rests on a document (a committee report, a motion, a Council or Commission text) and belongs to a procedure, the whole file that can span years.
Group badges
How most of a group voted: ✓ For · ✗ Against · – Abstained · ~ Split (no majority).
Codes in ballot labels
Am 27 — amendment 27
§ 5 — paragraph 5
§ 5/2, part 2 — a A paragraph or amendment voted in separate parts, so groups can back one part and oppose another., taken in parts
Am 3= 7= — identical amendments voted together
***I — Parliament’s first vote on a proposed EU law. It sets Parliament’s position for negotiations with the Council.; *** — Parliament can approve or reject the text, for example an international agreement, but cannot amend it.; * — Parliament gives its opinion on a proposal. The Council decides, but must wait for Parliament’s opinion.
Lapsed — Not put to a vote, because an earlier vote already settled the matter.