Sharp criticism of a European plan to establish deportation centers outside the union
A European plan to establish deportation centers outside the European Union is facing sharp criticism from migration experts, as EU institutions prepare to vote on the legal framework for this step, which aims to expedite deportation processes and reduce the number of migrants within Europe, according to the Austrian news agency APA.
The European Parliament is set to vote on what is known as the Return Regulation, which forms the legal basis for the establishment of these centers, where individuals who have been issued deportation orders and cannot be returned to their home countries, often due to a lack of documents or refusal by their countries to accept them, are to be transferred to centers outside the European Union.
The new proposals indicate the possibility of transferring these individuals to countries with which they have no prior connection, after the cancellation of the 'link' condition that required a relationship between the person and the receiving country, representing a significant shift in European policy in this area.
Several European countries, including Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Greece, are looking for partners to implement these centers, amid reports suggesting the possibility of cooperation with countries like Uganda or Tunisia, but the details of the implementation remain unclear so far, whether in terms of locations, duration of stay, or supervision mechanisms.
In this context, migration expert Gerald Knaus criticized these plans, considering them 'ill-conceived' and lacking practical basis, pointing out that transferring a person to a third country does not mean they can be detained there, raising questions about the usefulness of these centers in the first place.
For her part, researcher Judith Kohlenberger described the ongoing debate as 'sarcastic', considering that the unspoken goal of this policy is to create a deterrent effect on migrants, rather than being a real solution to the deportation problem, especially given the limited numbers that can be handled through this mechanism.
Non-governmental organizations have warned of the risks of human rights violations within these centers, pointing to the possibility of detaining families and children, in addition to the difficulty of monitoring the compliance of partner countries with European standards, especially given the weak ability to oversee even within the European Union itself.
Experts believe that the high cost of these centers, along with the need to build complete infrastructure and fund transportation operations, may limit their effectiveness compared to the required resources, as these measures are expected to include only a small number of people, raising doubts about their economic and practical viability.
In contrast, some political entities defend this step as a means to strengthen control over irregular migration and reduce pressure on asylum systems within the union, while discussions continue about the feasibility of implementing these plans and their actual long-term impact.