The European Union agrees to establish asylum centers outside Europe to expedite the processing of migrants.
The European Union has approved a new law allowing member states to establish asylum centers outside Europe and significantly limits the rights of asylum seekers within the Union. Negotiators from the 27 EU member states and the European Parliament have finalized the law, which expands the definition of 'safe third countries' and restricts migrants' ability to remain in Europe while their asylum applications are processed.
Under the new rules, asylum applications can be rejected if the person has already received protection or can obtain it in a country considered safe. The rejection criteria include previous residence in a safe country before traveling to the European Union, or an agreement between an EU member state and that third country regarding the processing of asylum applications.
Several member states are already planning to implement external centers. Italy intends to establish centers in Albania, while the Netherlands is considering a center in Uganda. Germany may also participate in these initiatives. However, NGOs have strongly opposed these plans, citing concerns about the treatment and safety of asylum seekers in these third countries.
The law also imposes harsher penalties on migrants who refuse to leave the European Union despite having no legal right to remain. These measures are part of a broader reform of the Common European Asylum System, which was agreed upon in June 2024 and is set to be fully implemented by June 2026. The reform aims to expedite asylum procedures and allow member states to reject applications directly at the external borders of the EU if their chances of success are slim.
The European Union's Commissioner for Migration, Magnus Brunner, praised the agreement, stating that it adds a new tool for effectively managing migration. By enhancing the capacity of member states to handle unacceptable asylum applications and eliminating some procedural guarantees, the EU seeks to exert greater control over irregular migration and reduce the backlog of pending asylum applications.