Far-right activists behind the "Save Europe Act" campaign have announced plans to take the European Commission to court after the EU executive rejected their petition promoting "remigration.

 

Far-right activists to sue European Commission over 'remigration' rejection

Far-right activists behind the "Save Europe Act" campaign have announced plans to take the European Commission to court after the EU executive rejected their petition promoting "remigration.

The Core Dispute

• The Petition: Organizers attempted to register a European Citizens' Initiative (ECI). It called for a temporary suspension of non-Western immigration channels (such as family reunification and study visas). It also demanded the forced return ("remigration") of legally resident non-European nationals deemed unintegrated or a burden.
• The Commission's Rejection: The European Commission officially refused to register the initiative. It stated that the proposal was contrary to fundamental EU values. The Commission noted that the petition explicitly discriminates based on ethnic, cultural, civilisational, or racial origin rather than providing the case-by-case legal review mandated by EU law.

Key Figures and Support

• Leadership: The movement is led by prominent Austrian far-right and identitarian activist Martin Sellner. Sellner announced that the campaign's legal team is prepared to file a formal lawsuit challenging the decision.
• Political Backing: The initiative is supported by various European nationalist and right-wing figures, including Hungary's Viktor Orbán, Spain's Santiago Abascal, and Romania's George Simion.
• Signatures: Organizers claim to have already collected nearly 600,000 informal signatures. A legitimate ECI requires one million verified signatures across at least seven member states to force action or a hearing from EU bodies.

Political Reactions

• Counter-protests: The decision sparked immediate political pushback in Brussels. Green MEP Cristina Guarda openly supported the rejection, labeling the petition as "hate propaganda". European lawmakers also staged counter-demonstrations when the campaign's supporters gathered outside the European Parliament.