EU leaders concluded a summit in Brussels with a significant shift in migration policy, endorsing the idea of outsourcing migration policy, although details on implementation and human rights protections were lacking. The move aims to reduce asylum applications, which reached a record high last year. The proposal includes the creation of “return hubs” in non-EU countries for rejected applicants. Some European leaders expressed concerns about cost and effectiveness, but the tide appears to be turning in favor of offshoring. Discussions also focused on dealing with instrumented migration by Belarus and Russia, with Poland proposing a controversial strategy that suspends the right to asylum temporarily. The EU leaders’ conclusion emphasizes the need to protect external borders, but the line between legal and illegal measures remains unclear. Efforts to prevent arrivals are also highlighted in the text, including the success of a deal with Tunisia. The EU is working to address the hybrid attacks by state actors and develop measures to protect member states. The conclusions also stress the importance of implementing existing legislation, which has previously been challenged by some member states. Overall, the summit reflected a shift towards outsourcing migration policy and a focus on protecting EU borders and preventing unauthorized arrivals.
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EU leaders back migration outsourcing with limited specifics
