Europe Wants to Expel Illegal Migrants Beyond EU Borders

Some European countries are attempting to conclude agreements with non-EU countries by the end of this year to establish deportation centers for illegal migrants.

On September 4, the interior ministers of Germany, Austria, Greece, Denmark, and the Netherlands announced in Copenhagen that they had identified concrete measures for such an agreement. The project aims to accelerate the return to their home countries of individuals whose asylum applications have been rejected and who must leave the territory of the European Union.

German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt stated that, together with these countries, he intends to conclude an agreement with third countries by the end of 2026 to create the necessary conditions. According to him, these five countries agreed to meet again in Munich in September of this year to discuss this issue.

This initiative follows changes in the European Union’s migration policy. New European laws enable EU member states to establish deportation centers in third countries for individuals who are not entitled to remain in the European Union.

Proponents of the project state that such centers could facilitate the deportation process for migrants, increase its efficiency, and contribute to reducing illegal migration.

However, human rights organizations and some international bodies have expressed concerns about potential consequences. Human rights organizations warn that transferring migrants to deportation centers outside the European Union could violate the rights of asylum seekers and refugees and complicate the monitoring of their rights. The European Commission previously also expressed concern about the risk of fundamental human rights violations in such deportation centers.

Denmark, a key proponent of this idea, noted that it hopes to create conditions for transferring migrants to such deportation centers by the end of 2027. The participating countries also stated that consultations with the International Organization for Migration and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees will be held in the next phase.

Despite this, the countries that could host such deportation centers have not yet been officially named. Negotiations are underway with several non-EU countries.