Europe Changes the Rules: Migrants May Be Sent to Third Countries
World
The European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs has approved a legislative initiative that would allow the creation of special centers in third countries for migrants expelled from the European Union.
The proposed package of laws would enable migrants to be placed in so-called “return centers” outside the EU after deportation. The initiative also предусматривает tougher penalties for foreigners whose stay in the EU is considered illegal, including possible prison sentences.
According to Deutsche Welle, the proposal received support from conservative and far-right political groups. A final vote on the initiative in the European Parliament is scheduled for March 12.
Data from the EU Agency for Asylum (EUAA), published in early March, show that the number of asylum applications in EU countries fell by 19% in 2025 compared with the previous year, to around 822,000.
The European Commission has linked the decline to stricter migration policies. However, European officials note that only about 20% of foreigners who receive an order to leave the EU actually return to their home countries.
Similar measures have already been adopted by individual countries. In 2024, the United Kingdom passed a law allowing the deportation of illegal migrants to Rwanda, while Italy ratified an agreement with Albania to build two migrant reception centers.
At the same time, such policies have been criticized by media outlets and human rights organizations, which warn that sending migrants to third countries may lead to potential violations of human rights.
According to Deutsche Welle, the proposal received support from conservative and far-right political groups. A final vote on the initiative in the European Parliament is scheduled for March 12.
Data from the EU Agency for Asylum (EUAA), published in early March, show that the number of asylum applications in EU countries fell by 19% in 2025 compared with the previous year, to around 822,000.
The European Commission has linked the decline to stricter migration policies. However, European officials note that only about 20% of foreigners who receive an order to leave the EU actually return to their home countries.
Similar measures have already been adopted by individual countries. In 2024, the United Kingdom passed a law allowing the deportation of illegal migrants to Rwanda, while Italy ratified an agreement with Albania to build two migrant reception centers.
At the same time, such policies have been criticized by media outlets and human rights organizations, which warn that sending migrants to third countries may lead to potential violations of human rights.
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