At the second event in this EPC-MEDAM series on EU-Africa relations, African and European analysts agreed on the obstacles to conducting effective and sustainable returns to third countries. They noted that this objective cannot be easily disentangled from broader policies, especially concerning development and asylum. The Gambian Ambassador to the EU, Teneng Mba Jaiteh, noted that while a new national migration plan is being finalised, The Gambia cannot bow to pressure from the EU to accept high numbers of returnees. The EU must account for third countries’ capacity when attempting to secure greater cooperation on migration management. Along with Kwaku Arhin-Sam (Friedensau Adventist University), she pointed to the New Pact’s failure to account for African priorities, such as migrant protection, development, and legal pathways, expanding instead the use of conditionality for return and readmission.  Francisco Gaztelu Mezquiriz from the European Commission highlighted the New Pact’s comprehensive approach to return and readmission, noting that a new strategy and funding for voluntary return and reintegration would address some concerns raised by third countries. Kwaku Arhin-Sam noted that these funds would, however, need to be well-managed and monitored to ensure that they meaningfully contribute to reintegration and to African societies. Victoria Rietig (DGAP), finally, highlighted the difficulty in assessing the effectiveness of conditionality approaches to readmission, given the lack of evidence. She further called for normalising returns as a legitimate part of migration policy, while being more open to regularisation alternatives.