The European Union’s innovative concept of constructing deportation camps outside its frontiers to accommodate asylum seekers whose applications have been rejected continues to raise concerns and skepticism, as reported by Euronews.
The European Commission is anticipated to include the groundbreaking initiative, which is euphemistically referred to as “return hubs,” in a legislative proposal that it will submit prior to the upcoming leaders’ summit in March. The proposal, which has not yet been described in detail, will encompass asylum seekers whose applications have been rejected, rendering them ineligible for continued residence in the bloc.
The returnees, who have arrived in the bloc, exhausted all legal avenues to request international protection, and are subsequently requested to depart the territory, are the primary focus at present. The EU has been grappling with a low rate of deportations for years and regards the return centers as a “innovative solution.”
How do the Return Centers Work?
In an informal meeting of interior ministers last week, Magnus Brunner, the European Commissioner for Migration, proposed “stronger rules on detention” and the “possibility of developing return hubs,”
as detailed in the minutes exclusively obtained by Euronews.
Return hubs are suggested sites beyond the EU for individuals whose asylum applications have been denied within the bloc, serving as a preliminary step before their repatriation to their home countries. The proposal for return hubs received positive feedback, being characterized as “a possible deterrence for irregular migration” by Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Italy, Latvia, and Malta.
How to Square the Circle Between Outsourcing and Legality?
According to the minutes, certain member states, including Portugal and Spain, expressed “doubts” regarding the legal and operational aspects of the matter, while Ireland and Belgium “emphasised the necessity of measures that were “realistic, workable, and respectful of fundamental rights.”
The commissioner stated that the establishment of such centers could be conducted in a “legally sound and humane manner.” However, he also noted that additional contemplation was required to “determine the practical implications of this type of concept.” The initiative has been rejected by humanitarian organizations, which have alleged that the centers will result in an endless cycle of detention and widespread suffering. The agency asserts that the fact that the camps would be constructed outside the territory does not excuse compliance with EU law, as member states and Frontex would continue to be “responsible for rights violations at the hubs and during any transfers.”
Under current EU legislation authorities are prohibited from relocating migrants to countries with which they have no affiliation.