Case C‑241/21

I. L.

v

Politsei- ja Piirivalveamet

(Request for a preliminary ruling from the Riigikohus)

Judgment of the Court (Second Chamber) of 6 October 2022

(Reference for a preliminary ruling – Directive 2008/115/EC – Return of illegally staying third-country nationals – Article 15(1) – Detention – Grounds for detention – General criterion based on the risk that the effective enforcement of the removal would be compromised – Risk that the person concerned would commit a criminal offence – Consequences of the establishment of the offence and the imposition of a penalty – Complication of the removal process – Article 6 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union – Restriction of the fundamental right to liberty – Requirement of a legal basis – Requirements of clarity, predictability and accessibility – Protection against arbitrariness)

1. Fundamental rights – Right to liberty and security – Enshrinement in Article 6 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights and in Article 5 of the European Convention on Human Rights – Identical meaning and scope

   (Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Arts 6, 52(3) and 53)

   (see paragraph 47)

2. Border controls, asylum and immigration – Immigration policy – Return of illegally staying third-country nationals – Directive 2008/115 – Detention for the purpose of removal – Grounds for detention

   (Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 6; European Parliament and Council Directive 2008/115, recital 16 and Art. 15(1))

   (see paragraphs 36-38, 40, 43, 46, 50-55, operative part)

See the text of the decision.