5 TopTencountryoforigin_Standalone

Figure 5 shows the top nationalities of children ordered to leave and/or returned from the EU in 2023. In 2023, the top five countries of origin of children ordered to leave the EU were Türkiye, Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq and Russia, whereas the top five countries of origin of children effectively returned from the EU were Georgia, Türkiye, North Macedonia, Moldova and Albania. These differences suggest a more collaborative approach to return procedures on the part of certain countries of origin, but also emphasise the fact that the internal situation in certain countries of origin may prevent the enforcement of return decisions issued against their nationals (e.g. Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and Russia).