The European Union is pressing forward to legalize the establishment of return centers in third countries. Criticized for potentially opening the door to human rights violations, this decision could allow a deportation order issued by one country to be valid across all member states.

The EU is preparing to legalize the establishment of “return centers” in third countries, which have faced criticism for the risk of human rights violations in the fight against irregular migration. Commission President of the EU, Ursula von der Leyen, presented her return strategy on March 11th to the European Parliament General Assembly, among her first 100 days of action since taking office on December 1, 2024. Von der Leyen first revealed the strategy’s contents shortly after securing her second five-year term following the European Parliament elections last summer in a letter to member states. Citing the return agreement between Italy and Albania in 2023, von der Leyen indicated that innovative ideas such as facilities in third countries would be implemented.

RECALLING THE RUANDA PLAN

This approach brought to mind the plan articulated by the UK in 2022, which proposed sending those who enter the country illegally and apply for asylum to Rwanda. Von der Leyen’s proposal, criticized by some EU leaders and international human rights organizations for violating the right to asylum and related safeguards, arbitrary detention, and restricting personal freedoms, drew attention due to its widespread support. The legislative proposal presented in the General Assembly of the European Parliament yesterday revealed that a legal basis would be provided for all these examples.

AIMING TO SPEED UP THE PROCESS

The legislative proposal, indicating that only 20% of those rejected from asylum applications in the EU are actually deported, aims to expedite and make these processes more effective. The EU is preparing to move the issue out of the realm of member states’ authority and subject it to EU-wide regulations to expedite returns by shortening bureaucratic processes and ensuring that a deportation order issued by one country becomes valid across all member states.

THEY CAN BE SENT TO ANY COUNTRY

The most crucial aspect of the package is that right-wing leaders, particularly Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, have managed to legalize the idea of sending migrants to centers established in third countries. If von der Leyen’s proposal is enacted, migrants whose asylum applications are not accepted will be able to be sent not only to the countries of origin or transit but also to any third country with which the EU has an agreement. Hanne Bierens, Director of the Brussels-based Migration Policies Institute, one of the organizations that contributed to the legislative proposal, stated that there is a political will behind the draft to convey a stronger and more effective message on return to voters. Bierens mentioned, “You see the political stance that wants to be tougher on migration can really influence legislative proposals.”