Return border procedure
Article 4
1. Third-country nationals and stateless persons whose application has been rejected in the context of the asylum border procedure shall not be authorised to enter the territory of the Member State concerned. 2. Member States shall require the persons referred to in paragraph 1 to reside for a period not exceeding 12 weeks in locations at or in proximity to the external border or transit zones. Where a Member State cannot accommodate such persons in those locations, it may resort to the use of other locations within its territory. The 12-week period shall start from the date on which the applicant, third-country national or stateless person no longer has a right to remain and is not allowed to remain. The requirement to reside at a particular location in accordance with this paragraph shall not be regarded as authorisation to enter into or stay on the territory of a Member State. The conditions in those locations shall meet the standards equivalent to those of the material reception conditions and healthcare in accordance with Articles 19 and 20 of Directive (EU) 2024/1346 of the European Parliament and of the Council ( 16 ) as they apply to persons still considered to be applicants. 3. Article 3, Article 4(1), Article 5, Article 6(1) to (5), Article 7(2) and (3), Articles 8 to 11, Article 12, Article 14(1), Article 15(2) to (4) and Articles 16 to 18 of Directive 2008/115/EC shall apply for the purposes of this Article. 4. Where a return decision cannot be enforced within the maximum period referred to in paragraph 2, Member States shall continue return procedures in accordance with Directive 2008/115/EC. 5. Without prejudice to the possibility for them to return voluntarily at any time, persons as referred to in paragraph 1 shall be granted a period for voluntary departure unless there is a risk of absconding, or if their application in the context of the asylum border procedure has been rejected as manifestly unfounded, or if the person concerned is a risk to public policy, public security or the national security of the Member States. The period for voluntary departure shall be granted only upon request and it shall neither exceed 15 days nor confer a right to enter the territory of the Member State concerned. For the purposes of this paragraph, such persons shall surrender any valid travel document in their possession to the competent authorities for as long as necessary to prevent absconding. 6. Member States that, following the rejection of an application in the context of the asylum border procedure, issue a refusal of entry in accordance with Article 14 of Regulation (EU) 2016/399 of the European Parliament and of the Council ( 17 ) , and that have decided not to apply Directive 2008/115/EC in such cases pursuant to Article 2(2), point (a), of that Directive, shall ensure that the treatment and level of protection of the third-country nationals and stateless persons subject to a refusal of entry are in accordance with Article 4(4) of Directive 2008/115/EC, and are equivalent to the treatment and level of protection set out in paragraph 2 of this Article and in Article 5(4) of this Regulation.