EU Ministers Back New Plan To Strengthen Deportations And Border Controls

EU interior ministers have approved new rules allowing member states to explore return hubs outside the bloc for migrants who are legally required to leave but cannot be returned to their countries of origin. The ministers also discussed tougher border controls, possible emergency measures for mass arrivals and a stronger role for Frontex, while EU officials stressed that fundamental rights must continue to be respected.

Interior ministers from European Union countries have approved new measures aimed at strengthening the bloc’s external borders and increasing the return of migrants who do not have the legal right to remain in the EU.
The ministers met in Luxembourg on Thursday as undocumented migration continues to be a major issue across the 27-member bloc.
One of the key decisions was a new regulation allowing EU countries to establish so-called return hubs outside the bloc for migrants who are required to leave but cannot be returned to their countries of origin.

RETURN HUBS COULD BE ESTABLISHED OUTSIDE THE EU

Return hubs would provide locations outside the EU where migrants subject to deportation could be transferred when returning them directly to their home countries is not possible.
Countries including Denmark, Austria, Greece, Germany and the Netherlands have been examining possible arrangements for such centres.
Danish Interior Minister Morten Bodskov said discussions on return hubs were progressing, although he did not provide details about possible host countries.
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt confirmed that preliminary discussions were taking place but said more work was needed to ensure any agreements would comply with legal requirements and withstand possible court challenges.

EU COUNTRIES SEEK LONG-TERM AGREEMENTS

Dobrindt said governments wanted agreements on return hubs to be legally sustainable over the long term.
He expressed hope that an initial agreement could be reached before the end of the year.
Dutch Migration Minister Bart van den Brink said a technical mission had already visited a potential host country in early September as part of efforts to explore the idea.
Supporters argue that return hubs could make it easier to return people who have been ordered to leave the EU and could discourage people from entering the bloc irregularly.
Critics, however, have raised questions about the legality of such arrangements and whether they could adequately protect migrants' fundamental rights.

GREECE CALLS FOR TEMPORARY ASYLUM SUSPENSION

Greece also proposed temporarily suspending asylum applications during major emergency situations involving large numbers of arrivals.
The proposal has generated debate because the right to seek asylum is protected under the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.
Greek authorities argued that existing rules are not sufficient to deal with sudden mass arrivals, pointing to the recent situation in Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta.
The Spanish government estimates that more than 72,000 migrants entered Ceuta in late July. Although most have since returned, around 10,000 people reportedly remained there.

MEMBER STATES DEBATE HOW TO HANDLE MASS ARRIVALS

The Dutch government appeared to support Greece's argument for treating certain mass-arrival situations primarily as border-management challenges.
Van den Brink said European countries needed to find a legal mechanism for dealing with large-scale arrivals without automatically placing everyone into the asylum procedure.
EU Commissioner for Migration Magnus Brunner said Europe needed the ability to protect its borders while emphasising that any measures must respect fundamental rights and European values.

EU UNDER PRESSURE TO TOUGHEN MIGRATION POLICY

Migration remains a major political issue across Europe, with governments facing pressure to reduce irregular arrivals and increase the number of migrants returned after unsuccessful asylum applications.
The debate has also contributed to growing support for parties advocating stricter immigration policies in several EU countries.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said the Commission plans to propose an emergency mechanism that would give member states additional tools to respond to large-scale migration movements.
However, details of the proposed mechanism are still being developed.

FRontex EXPECTED TO PLAY A GREATER ROLE

EU countries are also considering strengthening Frontex, the bloc's border and coast guard agency.
Some governments want the agency to have a stronger rapid-intervention capability that could be deployed during serious border crises.
The broader discussions show that EU governments are attempting to balance stronger border controls and faster returns with existing European and international obligations concerning asylum and fundamental rights.