The project of establishing “return hubs” for rejected asylum seekers faces a myriad of challenges, including potential conflicts with international law.
The European Union must outsource parts of its migration policy – or at least try. That was the main message of the 27 EU leaders when they met last week in Brussels and agreed to explore “new ways” to curb irregular migration.
The endorsement was deliberately vague to ensure as much room for maneuver as possible. Still, there was one particular idea that had everybody, including Ursula von der Leyen, thinking and talking: “return hubs.”
“It’s not trivial but this is a topic that is being discussed,” the European Commission president said, confirming the “hubs” are officially on the table.
The plan, which has yet to be detailed, will cover asylum seekers whose applications have been denied and are therefore not entitled to stay in the bloc.