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Netherlands wants a concrete proposal for return hubs

by AI | 07.Mar 2025 | Europe in brief AI

The Dutch Minister Marjolein Faber (Asylum and Migration) assumes that European Commissioner Magnus Brunner (Migration) will come up with a concrete proposal next week on how the EU can realize return centers for rejected asylum seekers outside the EU. If the European Commissioner only indicates in his plan that the Commission will conduct further research into this, “I am of course not happy about that,” Faber said after a meeting with EU ministers dealing with asylum and migration.

European Commissioner Magnus Brunner (Photo: APA/Roland Schlager)

BRUSSELS (ANP) – “I really want to move forward as quickly as possible. Something needs to happen and I’m trying to speed up this dossier,” said Faber.

The Netherlands is a strong proponent of so-called ‘return hubs’. These are centers outside the EU where rejected asylum seekers wait for deportation to their country of origin.

The return hubs are part of the proposal by Brunner for new return rules for rejected asylum seekers. According to Faber, the European Commissioner did not reveal anything further about his plan during the meeting with the ministers, which will be presented on Tuesday.

The Netherlands has urged Europe to make the return process more efficient and quicker, said Faber. “We have seriously lobbied for this.” She also sees a lot of support for this among other EU ministers.

“Let’s be honest, if the return process is not properly organized, then you can have your asylum system in order, but the final piece is, of course, the return,” emphasized Faber.

The return hubs are controversial. Italy already has such a center in Albania but has had to bring asylum seekers back to Italy on several occasions by order of the Italian court. It remains to be seen whether Brunner can propose a solution for these centers that meets all legal requirements.

The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) recently warned in a report that return centers must not become rights-free zones. Even if these centers are set up outside the EU, the protections of fundamental rights enshrined in EU legislation still apply, says the agency.

(March 5, 2025)