Public Opinion on Return and Readmission Policies in Europe: A Survey Catalogue and Thematic Analysis

Return and readmission (R&R) policies—encompassing voluntary return, forced removals, readmission agreements, and regularisation—are central to European migration governance. Yet, systematic knowledge about public attitudes toward these policies remains limited due to fragmented, inconsistent, and often inaccessible data. This article addresses this gap by cataloguing and analysing public opinion surveys conducted across Europe that include questions on R&R. Drawing on the MORE project’s conceptual framework, we identify 33 relevant surveys spanning 21 countries, examining their geographic and temporal coverage, accessibility, and thematic content. Our analysis reveals significant variation in country representation, with Germany, Spain, Italy, and Sweden most frequently surveyed. Thematic framing in existing instruments prioritises enforcement-oriented approaches—especially conditions under which deportation is acceptable—while alternatives such as regularisation or protection from removal are underrepresented. Moreover, survey questions rarely frame removal, inaction, and inclusion as interconnected policy options, constraining public deliberation of trade-offs. Methodological inconsistencies and limited public data access further hinder comparative research. We conclude by calling for more harmonised, inclusive, and publicly available survey instruments to better capture societal perspectives on R&R. This article provides a foundation for enhancing empirical research and evidence-based policymaking on one of Europe’s most contested areas of migration governance.