As part of a Franco-German joint operation, 51 Iraqi migrants were repatriated, who were willing to return home voluntarily in exchange for a nice sum of money. According to a 2019 parliamentary report, this method costs significantly less than deportation, however, many voluntary returnees decide to go back to Europe.

On the initiative of Berlin, France and Germany organised a joint operation to repatriate 51 Iraqi migrants whose application for residence permit had previously been rejected and were willing to return home voluntarily in exchange for money. Although both countries have been using this method for years, no joint international action has taken place so far, the French regional newspaper Ouest France writes.

The Iraqi immigrants who agree to participate in the programme will receive 1,800 euros per person, followed by an additional 3,000 euros as an aid from the EU countries to help their reintegratation in their home country. Under the current operation, 15 people were transported from northern France and 36 from Munich to Baghdad and the Iraqi Kurdistan capital, Erbil, with travel costs covered by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, Frontex. Originally, 75 migrants from Germany were to be repatriated, but only 36 of them tested negative for coronavirus, hence the others had to stay.

Didier Leschi, director of the French Office for Immigration and Integration (OFII), said the Franco-German operation was a great example of effective cooperation between European countries on migration issues and encouraged other countries to follow suit. He noted, however, that several countries, including Algeria and Morocco, were currently reluctant to accept returning immigrants because of coronavirus.

France paid 8,500 volunteer migrants to go home in 2019 and 2,300 people have been sent home since early 2020. According to a 2019 report by the National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale), this solution is much more economical than deportation, which is very expensive with the numerous administrative and other costs. While the latter costs the deporting country almost 14,000 euros (13,794 euros, to be precise), migrants who return home voluntarily are paid between 2,500 and 4,000 euros. The difference is well illustrated by the fact that while in 2018 the 33,960 deportations cost the French 468.45 million euros, the migrants, who returned voluntarily were paid only a fraction of this, 26.79 million euros. However, the exact number of people involved is not clear, as the Interior Ministry reported 6,845 people, while the OFII registered 10,676.

Without any doubt, it is a good idea to send migrants home at a fraction of the deportation costs, however, in many cases these voluntary returnees change their minds and go back to Europe in a short time, so the whole process starts all over again.

From 2018, Euronews has followed the life of a Nigerian immigrant, James, who was shipwrecked on his way to Europe in the Mediterranean and then sent to a Libyan refugee camp. He was lucky though, as he could take part in the voluntary returns programme and finally got back to his country of origin. However, back home he was very disappointed and could not cope with his new-old life, in addition, his loved ones also turned away from him due to his run away. As he was unable to pay the rent, he was evicted and now lives in the barber shop he has opened from the grant, but wants to leave Nigeria again, because he feels his situation is hopeless.