Doha: The issue of migrants in the European Union has always been one of the most complex issues in election debates, both in public opinion and within European parliaments.
Interest in this issue has gradually increased, transforming in recent years into one of the most prominent political files, coinciding with the rise of far-right movements in several European countries.
This movement, which has reached positions of power in some countries, presents a discourse warning of the impact of migration on European identity and culture, within a public debate characterized by wide divergent views on integration, multiculturalism, and immigration policies.
The latest meeting, which brought together the European Commission, the Council of the European Union, and the European Parliament, resulted in a broad preliminary agreement that would allow for the establishment of deportation centers outside the European continent, according to an announcement by Cyprus, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU Council.
However, the agreement still requires formal approval and a final vote in the coming days.
These arrangements are expected to take effect on June 12 and primarily concern asylum seekers whose applications have been rejected. They will be transferred to what are known as 'return centers' outside the EU, particularly in cases where their return to their countries of origin is impossible due to security or political reasons.
This measure also applies in cases where countries of origin refuse to receive their citizens or where no diplomatic relations exist. However, the destinations of these centers are still undecided, as consultations continue regarding partner countries. The plan aims to increase deportation rates and reduce the number of migrants in the EU who are obligated to leave.
According to the "Global Displacement Report" published last May in Berlin, there are more than 117 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) worldwide, a number that has doubled in a decade.
Most of these IDPs are internally displaced within their own countries, fleeing conflict or the effects of climate change such as drought and floods. Those who reach Europe and North America represent a small percentage of the total number of IDPs.
European data indicates that only about 29 percent of migrants who do not have a legal right to remain in Europe leave the EU.
The issue of migrants remains a subject of extensive debate within the EU regarding its effectiveness, cost, and compatibility with legal obligations and human rights.
In this context, some countries, such as Denmark, Austria, and Germany, have begun exploring the possibility of establishing such centers outside the EU's borders, while also considering cooperation with countries like Rwanda, Uganda, and Uzbekistan in exchange for agreements, financial assistance, and bearing the costs associated with deportation operations.
Italy previously implemented a pilot program by establishing a center in Albania to receive asylum seekers before their applications were processed. However, the center faced legal difficulties that led to its prolonged closure.
France has also expressed reservations about these policies, while Spain has opposed them, arguing that they could raise human rights concerns.
The idea of establishing return centers for asylum seekers outside the EU has faced continuous criticism from NGOs since its inception. These organizations view the idea as a potential threat to refugees' rights, particularly regarding the possibility of mistreatment in third countries.
Frank Duvell, a migration researcher at the University of Osnabruck in Germany, confirms a significant decrease in the number of refugees. In 2023, 330,000 people applied for asylum in Germany for the first time, while two years later, the number did not exceed 113,000.
This trend continued into the first quarter of 2026, with approximately 22,000 asylum applications registered. If this figure is estimated on an annual basis, the total number by the end of the year would be less than 90,000.
Migration data also shows a decline in the number of migrants in several countries, including Turkiye, Iran, and Sudan. Meanwhile, despite the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian conflict, approximately four million people have returned to their home regions.
Duvell believes the proposed European reforms may be "technically imprecise" and, in the worst-case scenario, could lead to duplication of structures and a curtailment of certain rights related to children, women, families, and refugees.
In contrast, the European Commission emphasizes that receiving countries must adhere to fundamental human rights standards, noting that unaccompanied minors-under the new rules-will not be deported to return centers, while families with children can be transferred under this system.
In this context, French MEP Mélissa Camara expressed her rejection of the agreement, describing it as a "historic setback" for human rights within the European Union. She argued that the new legislation opens the door to the detention of minors and expands surveillance and deportation procedures.
For her part, researcher Petra Bendel of the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg in Germany warned that the "Global Displacement 2026" report should be seen as a "wake-up call," noting concerns that the new unified European asylum system could lead to the detention of asylum seekers in "conditions resembling detention at the EU's external borders."
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen defended the new measures as a way to prevent a repeat of the 2015 refugee crisis in Europe, when nearly a million asylum seekers and migrants arrived in the continent, most of them fleeing wars and conflicts in the Middle East and Africa.
The idea of establishing centers outside EU countries is not new. Italy previously proposed an initiative to set up asylum processing centers in Albania, but the project faced legal challenges.
In the same vein, several European countries have adopted lists of so-called "safe countries," including Kosovo, Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, India, Morocco, and Tunisia. This allows for faster processing of asylum applications and reduces the chances of acceptance in some cases, as part of policies aimed at alleviating pressure on asylum systems, according to proponents of deportation.
The British newspaper The Independent pointed out that the agreement reflects a continuing trend toward tightening immigration policies within Europe, especially given the rise of right-wing parties in several countries during the 2024 European Parliament elections.
The newspaper stated that irregular migration flows in recent years have contributed to strengthening anti-immigrant political rhetoric within Europe.
