EU wants to outsource migration
21 October 2024
In a controversial move, EU leaders are pushing forward with plans to outsource migration control to non-EU countries, establishing "return hubs" for rejected asylum seekers. The goal is to deter migrants from arriving on European shores by offshoring their processing. Yet, significant questions remain unanswered about how these hubs will operate, what legal safeguards will protect human rights, and how the host countries will manage the influx of people.
Italy's new facility in Albania is the first example of this strategy. The new migration hub, meant to process asylum seekers outside the EU, is already facing serious setbacks. A recent court ruling ordered the return of 12 asylum seekers from Albania to Italy, as their home countries – Egypt and Bangladesh – could not be deemed entirely safe. That decision aligns with a previous European Court of Justice ruling. It ruled that non-EU countries cannot be declared "safe" unless their entire territory is proven secure. This legal blow casts doubt on the future of the Albania facility and other similar plans across the EU.
The EU's strategy echoes a plan once pushed by the UK with its controversial deal to send migrants to Rwanda. This arrangement, aimed at offshoring asylum processing, was widely criticised and ultimately scrapped when the new Labour government came to power in July.
Outsourcing migration also faces practical hurdles, as questions about who will manage these centres and what happens in case of conflict remain unresolved. Such deals have rarely worked in the past – EU return rates were actually higher 15 years ago, despite today's tougher stance.
The only countries willing to take on these migration deals tend to have authoritarian governments. Democratic states, particularly in Africa, avoid such arrangements due to public backlash. In contrast, regimes like Rwanda seek international legitimacy in exchange for cooperation. However, partnering with these governments risks fuelling new refugee crises as their oppressive policies drive more people to flee, ultimately worsening the problem.
 | Henrique Tizzot While the EU's leaders frame outsourcing migration as a solution to a growing crisis, this approach raises profound ethical and legal questions. Shifting responsibility to third countries often violates international human rights standards, and these quick fixes avoid addressing the root causes of migration, such as conflict, inequality, and climate change. Outsourcing also risks legitimising regimes that oppress their populations, creating a cycle of instability that may lead to more, not less, displacement. The EU should focus on transparent and lawful policies that align with its core values of human rights and the rule of law. What's urgently needed is a thorough and open debate – one that reflects the bloc's commitment to upholding democratic principles while ensuring migration policies are both effective and humane. |
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