EU agrees on faster returns, setting up 'return hubs' in third countries

The European Union has taken a significant step toward streamlining the return of individuals staying illegally within its borders. A preliminary agreement was reached between the Council and the European Parliament on a new law designed to create faster and more effective EU-wide procedures for returns. A key component of this deal is the establishment of a framework for return centers in third countries.

Under the new regulation, member states will be able to set up return centers in non-EU countries. These centers can serve as final destinations or transit points, aiding the onward journey to a person's country of origin or another third country. Such arrangements are contingent on agreements with third states that respect international human rights standards and the principle of non-refoulement. Unaccompanied minors are explicitly excluded from these agreements. While specific countries have not been officially named, reports suggest Uganda or Kazakhstan are potential locations.

Austria, through its Interior Minister Gerhard Karner, had strongly advocated for asylum applications to be processed in "safe third countries." However, the current agreement does not facilitate asylum processing within these third-country hubs. Instead, the "Return Hubs" are intended for individuals who have received a negative asylum decision or are already subject to an obligation to leave the EU. These centers will function as intermediary or holding stations outside the EU, from which repatriation will be organized.

This EU regulation differs from models like the UK's proposed Rwanda plan, which aimed to process asylum claims in Rwanda for those arriving irregularly in the UK. The EU's approach focuses on managing returns after a negative decision has been made, rather than pre-screening asylum applications in third countries. The practical implications for Austria, which has faced challenges with deporting individuals with negative asylum decisions, are still being assessed.