EU countries are allowed to establish migration centres in third countries

The European Parliament and EU member states agreed on a new migration package on Monday, as Le Monde reports. The regulation allows member states to establish migration centres in third countries – for example in Rwanda or Uzbekistan – to house rejected asylum seekers there.

The package provides for a series of measures to accelerate deportation procedures. Ouest-France documents that the new regulations enable states to design their migration policy significantly more restrictively. Countries wishing to make use of this option can now independently decide whether and where to establish such centres.

Shift in European migration policy

The agreement marks a shift in European migration policy. Libération notes that the EU is thus implementing a model that has so far been demanded primarily by individual member states. The centres are intended to enable asylum procedures to be conducted outside EU territory and thus reduce the number of migrants arriving in Europe.

The regulation is optional – no EU country is obliged to establish such centres. However, several states have already signalled interest in the model. Practical implementation will now be concretised in the coming months, for example through negotiations with potential host countries and clarification of financing and operations.