EU Proposes Return Hubs for Migrants

The upcoming EU summit in Brussels will address migration policy amid conflicting member state interests. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is advocating for a unified approach to asylum and migration reforms, which some countries, like Spain, support, while others, like Hungary and the Netherlands, oppose. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has proposed the establishment of 'return hubs' outside the EU to expedite the deportation of failed asylum seekers, marking a significant shift in policy. These plans reflect a push to improve the efficiency of expulsion processes, as current follow-up on expulsion orders is alarmingly low. The EU aims to streamline procedures and enhance cooperation among member states while drawing lessons from Italy's recent asylum pact with Albania. This summit is a crucial moment for the EU to reconcile differing views on migration management ahead of new legislative proposals.