Key facts
- The Council of Europe warned Austria, Denmark, Germany, Greece, and the Netherlands about human rights risks in planned asylum return hubs.
- The watchdog's commissioner, Michael O'Flaherty, proposed four 'guardrails' including risk assessments, monitoring, legally binding agreements, and parliamentary/judicial scrutiny.
- The Netherlands is collaborating with the other four nations to establish joint return and transit hubs in third countries.
- The Dutch government aims to implement these measures by the end of the year.
- Nineteen EU member states have previously called for swift action on third-country migration measures.
Europe's leading human rights watchdog has cautioned five European Union member states against potential human rights risks associated with planned asylum seeker return hubs. The Council of Europe, a non-EU body focused on human rights, democracy, and the rule of law, urged Austria, Denmark, Germany, Greece, and the Netherlands to ensure full protection of rejected asylum seekers' rights under international law.
In letters addressed to the five nations, the Council's human rights commissioner, Michael O'Flaherty, outlined four critical 'guardrails' that should be implemented. These include comprehensive human rights risk assessments before any action, rigorous monitoring of plans, legally binding agreements with enforceable safeguards, and thorough parliamentary, judicial, and public scrutiny.
The Netherlands has confirmed its collaboration with Greece, Austria, Germany, and Denmark to establish joint return and transit hubs in third countries for individuals without a legal right to remain in the EU. The Dutch government has expressed a desire for concrete steps by the end of the year, citing an 'asylum crisis'.
This push for third-country migration measures, including return hubs, follows a joint letter from 19 EU member states last month urging the European Commission to financially support such efforts. The intensified focus on migration policy is occurring against a backdrop of growing anti-immigration sentiment across the EU over the past decade, which has bolstered support for far-right political parties.