​The Portuguese Presidency of the Integration, Migration and Expulsion (IMEX) Working Group is carrying out a study on "return activities in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic". The work is based on a questionnaire, to be completed by all delegations by March 10, and the responses of Member States will give rise to a synthesis document that will be discussed at the April IMEX meeting.

The aim is to find out about the status of return activity in the following aspects: issuing travel documents to undocumented migrants, detention of illegal migrants, organising return operations and promoting voluntary return.

This work follows on from that of the German Presidency, namely the recommendations on how to adapt return activities to the pandemic context, identifying steps for this progressive and effective resume to these operations, and other necessary measures to develop a more crisis-resistant system.​