EU parliament backs law allowing offshore detention centres

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says Return Regulation will provide 'necessary tools' to manage immigration. Picture: Virgin Mayo.

The European Parliament approved an overhaul of migration policy on Wednesday aimed at ramping up deportations and allowing member states to set up detention centres abroad.

The decision, described by critics as a cruel system that weakens ‌safeguards for asylum seekers, underlines the rise in anti-immigration sentiment across the European Union (EU).

This increase in anti-immigrant rhetoric across the EU over the past decade has broadened popular support for far-right parties.

The text, which requires final formal approval from the 27 EU member governments, marks a sharp hardening of EU migration policy, which has taken shape since an influx of over a million refugees and migrants in 2015-16.

President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen said the ‘Return Regulation’ will provide “the necessary tools to make returns more efficient, with faster and more effective procedures".

Ms von der Leyen’s comments were made on Tuesday in a letter addressed to member states ahead of a meeting of EU leaders in Brussels.

EU countries say they struggle to ensure that rejected asylum seekers and people who overstay their visas leave their territory.

However, critics argue that EU migration policy has become too heavily focused on deterrence and deportation, overlooking the root causes of migration, which can include conflict, poverty and political repression.

Human rights chief at the United Nations (UN), Volker Turk spoke on the matter at the UN Human Rights Council on Monday.

“The dehumanisation of migrants and refugees, including in the UK, US, and many EU countries, is appalling, often leading also to the denial of their rights," said Mr Turk.

"The EU’s new rules on returning migrants risk expanding the use of detention, establishing offshore return hubs, and weakening safeguards against refoulement."

Last month, the Commission invited Taliban officials to Brussels to discuss deportations of Afghan migrants, despite warnings from human rights groups that such engagement could ‌endanger Afghans ⁠and violate core EU values.

The Commission and the Swedish government, which will co-host the visit, said the meeting will be technical and does not constitute recognition of Taliban rule.

The visit, scheduled to take place on June 22 and 23, will focus on "the return and readmission of Afghan nationals without a right to stay in the EU”, according to a letter seen by Reuters and addressed to Abdul Qaher Balkhi, a Taliban foreign ministry spokesperson.

A spokesperson for the Belgian foreign minister said on Wednesday that ⁠Belgium had received visa applications from five members of the Taliban delegation.

He could not confirm when the meeting would take place.

He said the delegation will undergo security screening and that it is not clear yet when Belgium will be able to grant the visas.

The spokesperson also said that Belgian foreign minister, Maxime Prevot ⁠does not agree with the invitation.

"He does not approve of the choice to invite representatives of the Taliban regime to Brussels,” the spokesperson said.

“He would never accept that the Belgian government, in its own name, invite these individuals for discussions in Belgium."

The Commission said last month that the deportations would ⁠be limited to individuals "who pose a security risk".

Neither the Commission nor the Swedish migration minister confirmed the date of the meeting.

Western countries have refused to recognise the Taliban since the hardline Islamist group overthrew a US and Nato-backed government in Afghanistan in 2021 and regained power.

- Reuters