Greece: Migrant return centers in Rwanda and Uzbekistan
Greece leads a European alliance negotiating to transfer rejected asylum seekers to Rwanda and Uzbekistan under new EU legislation allowing migrant return centers in third countries.
Three European diplomats confirmed these consultations, which follow the recent passage of legislation by the European Parliament allowing member states to establish reception centers in third countries.
The new legislation concerns the transfer of individuals whose right to stay in the European Union has been definitively rejected, provided that the host countries respect human rights and international law.
More than half of the EU’s 27 member states signed a relevant letter requesting immediate action for the operation of these facilities. The effort is led by Denmark, Austria, Greece, Germany, and the Netherlands. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis stated before the vote on the law: “Our goal is to complete the first agreements for the creation of these facilities in 2026, so that they are operationally ready by 2027”.
The choice of countries remains fluid, as the political and diplomatic process is still evolving, as two other European diplomats noted.
The Failed Attempts of Britain and Italy
This strategy comes after a series of failed initiatives by European governments to externalize migration management. Britain’s plan for Rwanda was canceled last year after years of legal disputes, while Italian migrant centers in Albania face ongoing legal challenges.
However, supporters of the new European strategy argue that the new legal framework will succeed where previous attempts failed. Although interest is focused on Rwanda and Uzbekistan, the final conclusion of agreements will depend on each government’s bilateral contacts.
The European Commission is not directly involved in the selection negotiations, although it must be informed before operations begin. The EU has already invested hundreds of millions of euros in these regions, announcing investments of 900 million euros in Rwanda in 2023 through the Global Gateway program, while approving funding of 119 million euros to Uzbekistan.
Why Egypt and Libya Were Excluded
According to a senior European official from the core countries, another country being discussed behind closed doors is Uganda. In contrast, countries that are geographically closer to the European area, such as Egypt and Libya, were excluded due to the high risk of strengthening human trafficking networks.
Cyprus Minister of Migration Nikolas Ioannides explained: “The general idea is to set up these centers perhaps in Africa or Asia, but not close to European borders”. He emphasized that the protection of human rights will be the basic criterion for the agreements, and that the EU is seeking the participation of international organizations, such as the International Organization for Migration and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.
Unfortunately, we will add as NewsFire.GR, for these organizations, it has been clearly proven that they do nothing substantial to combat illegal immigration. Quite the opposite in fact…
Strong Reactions from Political Circles Supporting Illegal Immigration
The shift toward “return centers” has provoked fierce reactions from humanitarian organizations and sections of the political world. Jean-Nicolas Beuze, representative of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Brussels, stated that the EU is a victim of populist rhetoric and alternative facts regarding migrants, warning that refugees risk being sent to countries where they may suffer irreparable harm.
Countries such as France and Spain have publicly questioned the advisability of the plan. French President Emmanuel Macron stated last week: “I have never seen any return center in a third country actually work”, while also expressing doubts about whether this policy is consistent with European values.
From the European Greens, MEP Mélissa Camara, who was her group’s lead negotiator on the new migration rules, stated that the creation of such hubs outside the borders violates fundamental European principles of dignity. “By creating such centers in Uzbekistan or Rwanda, we will have absolutely no guarantee that human rights are respected”, she added.
Differences from Previous Models
The substantial difference of the new system, which was voted on in the European Parliament, lies in the profile of the individuals who will be transferred. These centers are intended exclusively for individuals who have exhausted every legal means to remain in the EU and whose deportation is pending, in contrast to the older plans of Britain or Italy that focused on newly arriving asylum seekers.
Source: Newsbomb
