EU tightens asylum rules and makes deportations easier

Agreement on asylum policy

EU clears way for deportation centers in third countries

The EU is tightening rules to make deportations easier to enforce. An agreement now paves the way for deportation centers outside Europe.

The European Union is clearing the way for return centers in third countries and the tightening of further asylum rules in order to enable more deportations. This provides for an agreement that representatives of the European Parliament and the governments of the member states reached in the evening, according to the current Cypriot EU Council Presidency.

Parliament and the EU states must now finally approve the compromise so that the new deportation rules can come into force. This is usually a formality.

Rejected asylum seekers who cannot be returned to their countries of origin – for example because their home country refuses to take them back or the federal government does not maintain diplomatic relations with the country concerned – are supposed to go to the special return centers (“return hubs”) outside the European Union.

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It is still unclear where such centers could be set up outside the EU. The aim is to enable more deportations and thus reduce the proportion of migrants in the EU who are obliged to leave the country. According to the new regulations, unaccompanied minors should not be deported. For families with children, however, the option will already be available.

According to the plans, the prerequisite for deportations should be a corresponding agreement with a third country. This person would then accommodate the refugees and in return would probably receive money or advantages when issuing visas.

Germany, together with several other EU states, is currently trying to reach agreements with countries that would be willing to set up such return centers on their territory. Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) had repeatedly spoken out in favor of the so-called return hubs project.

To date, there has been no EU framework for such third-country solutions. Italy had concluded an agreement with Albania to outsource both deportation detention and asylum procedures there. The model ended up in the European Court of Justice (ECJ) because of lawsuits – a final judgment is still pending.

However, Great Britain’s attempt to outsource asylum procedures to third countries using the so-called Rwanda model has already failed resoundingly. The country wanted to bring asylum seekers to Rwanda, who would then stay there if they were granted protection status after the examination. Despite costs of around 830 million euros, the plan could never actually be implemented due to court decisions.

A legal basis for outsourcing the entire asylum procedure as in the Rwanda model – not just deportation to a third country – was decided in the EU at the end of last year.