EU Proposes Return Hubs to Speed Up Deportations, Seeks UNHCR Support
The EU has proposed a revised Return Directive, expanding deportation options and removing automatic suspension of deportation during appeals. The EU seeks UNHCR participation to avoid UK's Rwanda plan pitfalls.
The EU's new plan, tabled in March, aims to establish 'return hubs' in non-EU countries like Tunisia, Egypt, and Uganda. These hubs will hold failed asylum seekers awaiting deportation, modelled partly on the UK's defunct Rwanda plan. Unlike the UK's offshore processing, the EU plan applies only to those whose claims have already been denied.
The EU wants UNHCR involvement to ensure stringent legal safeguards, including limits on detention and respect for the principle of non-refoulement. Around 80% of failed asylum seekers ordered to leave Europe do not comply with deportation orders, with some remaining unlawfully and a minority linked to violent crimes.
The EU Commission, led by Ursula von der Leyen, first proposed examining return hubs' feasibility in 2024, referencing Italy's bilateral agreement with Albania. The new EU plan, announced on May 20, 2025, seeks UN support to facilitate safe third country application, accelerate asylum procedures while respecting legal guarantees and fundamental rights.
