Time to rethink Rwanda, Keir? EU prepares to sign off ‘return centres’ for rejected asylum seekers in third countries – after Labor scraps Tories’ plans

EU leaders will discuss plans for ‘return centres’ for migrants, as the bloc changes its position on asylum deportation camps.

Ahead of this week’s European Council summit, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called for “innovative ways to combat illegal migration.”

In a letter to the bloc’s leaders ahead of their meeting in Brussels, Ms von der Leyen said they should consider developing “return hubs outside the EU”.

These would likely house failed asylum seekers sent from the EU when a deportation order is imposed on them.

She added that the EU could “learn lessons” from Italy’s new asylum treaty with Albania.

As a result, migrants are rescued at sea by Italian ships and taken to Albania to have their asylum applications processed.

Ms von der Leyen’s call for EU leaders to consider approving ‘return centres’ marks a U-turn from Brussels bosses on how to tackle illegal migration.

Ylva Johansson, EU Home Affairs Commissioner, previously criticized Britain’s plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda to have their claims processed.

“Sending asylum seekers more than 6,000 km away and outsourcing asylum processes is not a humane and dignified migration policy,” she said in 2022.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer rejected the Rwanda plan immediately after Labor won the July general election.

But according to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, he has since shown “great interest” in Italy’s deal with Albania.

Migrants stand on the Italian navy ship Libra that arrived in Albania as part of a deal with Italy to process thousands of asylum seekers apprehended near Italian waters

Ms von der Leyen’s predecessor, Jean-Claude Juncker, expressed his opposition to ‘remote return centres’ outside the EU in 2018.

But in her letter to EU leaders, Ms Von der Leyen warned that the bloc’s migration policy “can only be sustainable if those who do not have the right to remain in the EU are effectively returned”.

“We are already committed to reviewing the concept of designated safe third countries next year,” she said.

‘We should also continue to explore possible avenues regarding the idea of ​​developing return centers outside the EU, especially in view of a new legislative proposal on return.

“With the start of the operations of the Italy-Albania Protocol, we will also be able to learn practical lessons from this experience.”