Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
In the last quarter of 2024, 124,935 non-EU citizens were ordered to leave an EU country, and 28,630 people were returned to third countries after being issued a departure order.
Compared to the third quarter of 2024, the number of departure orders increased by 11.5%, while the number of returns to third countries increased by 3.3%.
Compared to the same quarter of 2023, the number of non-EU citizens ordered to leave increased by 16.3%, while the number of people returned to third countries increased by 24.3%.
According to figures released by Eurostat, the European Statistical Office in Brussels, among non-EU citizens ordered to leave an EU country during this period, the majority were Algerian citizens (11,362), followed by Syrian citizens (8,674) and Moroccan citizens (8,561). Among those returning to third countries, the majority were Georgians (3,351), followed by Turkish citizens (2,492) and Albanians (1,982).
Among EU countries, the highest numbers of non-EU citizens ordered to leave were recorded in France (31,880), Spain (18,645), and Germany (15,135).
Germany (6,170), France (3,705), and Sweden (2,600) recorded the highest numbers of people returning to third countries.