The European Commission has proposed an amendment to the EU Migration and Asylum Pact that would speed up deportations and establish "return hubs", detention centres in third countries that violate international law.
The Commission, the EU's executive arm, tabled a proposal to establish a 'Common European System for Returns' on Tuesday. The proposal is an amendment to the Migration and Asylum Pact that aims to reduce the amount of people claiming asylum in Europe.
"Today, only around 20% of those who have a return decision leave Europe. This number is by far too low," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a press release.
To ensure that people whose asylum applications are refused are then deported from Europe, the proposal would create a uniform returns system across the bloc. All EU Member States would mutually recognise return decisions and affected individuals would be punished for refusing to cooperate with their own deportation.
President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. Credit: Belga / Kohn Thys / AFP
Legal detention times would increase from 18 months to 24 months. "People posing a security risk" would be subject to stricter rules (on top of more stringent rules for all individuals across the board).
The proposal also introduces "return hubs", detention centres in third countries such as the system attempted by the UK in Rwanda and Italy in Albania. Both initiatives were thwarted by national courts as they were deemed to be in violation of international law.
European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner says the centres are "innovative solutions". The Commission says they would only be established in countries that respect human rights.
'Discriminatory and punitive'
The proposal is being met with shock and disapproval by human rights organisations and centrist, centre-left and left-wing political parties.
The Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants (PICUM) says the proposal is "discriminatory and punitive". "We can likely expect more people being locked up in immigration detention centres across Europe, families separated and people sent to countries they don't even know," noted PICUM advocacy officer Silvia Carta.
'Pandering to populists'
The European Greens said the proposal undermines the EU's commitment to human rights.
"Instead of working towards a safe, fair and efficient return system, the Commission is willing to throw human rights and evidence-based policy making to the wind in favour of pandering to populists," said Greens/EFA MEP Tineke Strik.
"Echoing the failed UK-Rwanda deal, Member States will be able to deport people to countries where they have an agreement, regardless of whether the people involved have any links to that country or whether they will ultimately be able to return to their home country."
Credit: Belga / Nicolas Maeterlinck
The Left says the proposal undermines basic human dignity, perpetuates racial discrimination and plays into the far-right strategy of 'remigration': deportation to reduce immigration, regardless of the human cost.
"The Commission proposal to establish 'return hubs' outside the EU crosses a dark new line," said MEP for The Left Estrella Galán. "Deporting migrants and refugees to prisons in third countries and stripping them of their rights has long been the far-right's project."
"Europe must abandon these inhumane policies and ensure legal, safe pathways and a dignified reception for those in need of protection. Ours is the right side of history, not theirs."
Belgian criticism
Belgian NGOs have also weighed in, with Vluchtelingenwerk Vlaanderen and 11.11.11 denouncing "return hubs" and pointing out that the EU Human Rights Agency has previously expressed doubts about the plan's viability.
They concede that return figures are low but do not believe illegal detention centres will provide a feasible solution.
"Cooperation on voluntary and forced return with countries outside the EU is possible, but respect for human rights must be the starting point," they stated. "This can be done by creating attractive packages for voluntary return and offering legal channels for migration with which we can reduce irregular stay."
