Ireland among 46 countries agreeing to send asylum seekers to third‑country hubs

A political declaration from the 46 members of the Council of Europe said states had an “undeniable sovereign right” to control their borders.

Alain Berset, the secretary general of the Council of Europe, said discussions about removing people who arrived in Europe by irregular routes would take place during the conference 'at a multilateral level'. File picture: Jordan Pettitt/PA

Ireland, the UK, and 44 other European countries have signed an agreement that explicitly endorses plans to send unwanted asylum seekers to third country hubs.

A political declaration from the 46 members of the Council of Europe, the body that oversees the European convention on human rights (ECHR), said states had an “undeniable sovereign right” to control their borders.