A group of 15 member states, led by Denmark, have issued a joint call to develop the outsourcing of migration and asylum policy in response to the increase in irregular arrivals in recent years. They argue that focusing on supporting refugees and host communities in regions of origin is a more sustainable approach than managing irregular migration in Europe. The signatories propose building partnerships with key countries along migratory routes and exploring solutions to transfer asylum seekers to predetermined locations outside the EU to break the incentive structures driving irregular migration movements.
The coalition of countries, including Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Greece, Italy, and others, urges the EU to pursue comprehensive and mutually beneficial partnerships with nations along migratory routes, similar to the deals struck with Turkey, Tunisia, and Egypt. They highlight the protocol between Italy and Albania, which involves outsourcing the processing of asylum applications to the Balkan country, as an example to follow. The signatories call for exploring options to rescue migrants at sea and bring them to partner countries outside the EU, emphasizing the need for complementary efforts alongside the New Pact on Migration and Asylum.
The letter from the 15 member states coincides with the completion of the New Pact on Migration and Asylum, a comprehensive reform aimed at establishing common rules for all EU member states. While the Pact received final approval, Denmark, the initiator of the outsourcing call, has a longstanding opt-out clause from the Area of Freedom, Security, and Justice and is not bound by the Pact. The European Commission acknowledges the complexity of the proposals in the letter and emphasizes the focus on implementing the agreed reform over the next two years.
The signatories of the letter commend the New Pact for providing a strong legal framework to address irregular migration but stress the need for complementary efforts, particularly in relation to returns of applicants denied international protection. The coalition suggests establishing return hub mechanisms outside the EU and sending asylum seekers to safe third country alternatives to relieve pressure on national authorities. They emphasize the importance of upholding international legal obligations, including the principle of non-refoulement and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, in implementing new measures.
The proposed outsourcing of migration and asylum policy by the coalition of member states marks a significant shift in approach, echoing a trend that has gained prominence since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. The call for outsourcing is divisive due to its legal and humanitarian implications, but the broad support from more than half of the EU member states suggests that the project may gain traction. The letter serves as a bold endorsement for exploring new strategies to address irregular migration and asylum challenges and hints at the direction the EU may take following the upcoming elections to the European Parliament.
