EU agrees to create offshore centers for rejected migrants

European Union lawmakers and member states have reached an agreement to toughen the bloc's migration policy, paving the way for the potential establishment of offshore centers to process illegal migrants.

The new legislation includes a range of measures designed to expedite deportations. Notably, it permits EU member states to create centers outside of Europe to house asylum seekers whose applications have been rejected. This compromise, finalized late Monday, awaits a final vote in the European Parliament and among member states in the coming weeks.

Several European nations, including Denmark, Austria, and Germany, are reportedly exploring potential locations for these "return hubs." Options being considered include countries like Rwanda, Uganda, and Uzbekistan. The concept of such centers, detached from migrants' countries of origin, is not entirely new. Italy previously piloted a similar initiative in Albania, processing individuals even before their asylum claims were fully examined, a process that differs from the new EU law's approach.

However, the Italian center in Albania faced significant delays due to legal challenges and remained largely empty. Developing these new projects will require considerable time and cooperation from third countries willing to host them. France has voiced skepticism regarding these centers, and Spain has opposed the idea, citing concerns about human rights. A diplomatic source cautioned that the effectiveness of these hubs remains uncertain, suggesting the core of the law lies in the "flexibilities" introduced to speed up expulsions.

The approved text imposes stricter sanctions on migrants who refuse to leave EU territory, such as confiscation of identity documents and extended detention periods of up to 24 months. Those facing forced return could also face longer entry bans into the EU, extended to 10 years, or even 20 years, from the current five. Currently, only about 20% of expulsion decisions are successfully carried out, a statistic that has drawn criticism from proponents of a firmer migration stance. The EU Commissioner for Immigration, Magnus Brunner, stated that the new rules will provide "better control to ensure that returns are carried out. This is what citizens expect – and it is what we are offering them."