After the United States, 5 European Countries Move to Deport Migrants to Third Countries

Al-Taj News – Countries in the European Union are moving to test a new model for beginning to deport asylum seekers whose applications have been rejected to third countries outside the bloc, possibly in Africa, after the European Union approved new rules this week paving the way for this practice.

A report by US network CBS News said that Greece, Germany, Austria, Denmark and the Netherlands have agreed on a joint framework to establish “return centers” outside the European Union, where people who have exhausted all legal options to remain in Europe could be transferred if they cannot be returned to their countries of origin.

Safe countries

Danish Interior Minister Morten Bødskov said, “Regarding migrant return centers, things are going very well. We are moving in the right direction.”

He had previously said that Denmark expects to “be ready to transfer the first batch of irregular migrants to a partner country outside the European Union by 2027.”

Greek Migration Minister Thanos Plevris told Politico that Greece expects to launch a pilot project in the first half of next year.

No potential destinations for the European Union’s return centers have been confirmed, although reports have indicated that Rwanda is a potential partner in the project.

A statement issued by the Greek government regarding the plans said that these centers would be established in safe third countries, “particularly on the African continent.”