Commission to study asylum ‘return hubs’ despite rejection by Italian court
During a debate in the European Parliament on Wednesday, the European Commission maintained its intention to study the possibility of setting up offshore “return hubs” for people whose asylum applications have been rejected in the EU.
“The Commission will continue to explore the possibilities of setting up these return hubs outside the EU, with a view to a new legislative proposal on returns,” commissioner Helena Dalli said after a debate on the issue in Strasbourg.
“But I would like to stress one thing: we are going to pay particular attention to respect for fundamental rights. There will be exchanges with international organisations, such as the UNHCR, to ensure that international law and the principle of non-refoulement are always respected.”
System rejected
An Italian court has recently condemned a system set up by prime minister Giorgia Meloni to outsource the processing of migrants rescued at sea to Albania.
Last week, Commission president Ursula von der Leyen cited the Italy-Albania agreement in a letter sent to EU heads of state and government ahead of a European summit. The leaders of the 27 member states said they were willing to consider “new ways of preventing and countering irregular migration”.
"But I would like to stress one thing: we are going to pay particular attention to respect for fundamental rights"
On Friday, however, a court in Rome ruled that the first 12 migrants from Egypt and Bangladesh sent to Albania should be returned to Italy. Meloni is now trying to salvage her plan by amending it by decree.
Belgium's prime minister, Alexander De Croo, said last week that asylum centres set up outside Europe's borders "have never proved effective".
Only the Christian democrats of the EPP, Von der Leyen’s party, reiterated their support for the idea of “transit hubs for return”.
An Italian coastguard patrol boat enters the port of Bari carrying 12 migrants from the Italian detention centre in Albania, 19 October 2024 © PHOTO ANSA VIAZUMA Press
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