EU Ministers Discuss Offshore Migrant Processing Centers in Moldova

European Union ministers are meeting in Moldova to discuss the establishment of offshore processing centers in third countries for rejected migrants and asylum seekers. The discussions come amid increasing political pressure within Europe to strengthen border controls and improve the enforcement of deportation orders.

Alain Berset, president of the Council of Europe, noted that "return hubs" are a primary subject of the talks. Berset emphasized that migrants who are expelled must continue to be protected under the European Convention on Human Rights. British Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is also expected to attend the meeting.

In a related development, Uzbekistan has signed an agreement with Austria to accept deported Afghan migrants. Separately, EU officials in Brussels are conducting talks regarding migration cooperation with Afghan authorities, which include the potential return of rejected asylum seekers.

Data indicates a gap in deportation enforcement across EU countries. Between 2017 and 2023, these nations issued between 450,000 and 500,000 deportation orders annually, though fewer than half of those orders were successfully enforced.