A group of 15 member states, led by Denmark, issued a joint call to develop the outsourcing of migration and asylum policy, citing the increase in irregular arrivals in recent years. They believe that focusing on supporting refugees and host communities in regions of origin will help break the incentive structures driving irregular migration towards Europe. The signatories advocate for partnerships with countries along migratory routes and propose shifting tasks from national authorities to neighbouring countries to manage migration. They suggest exploring solutions such as rescuing migrants at sea and bringing them to partner countries outside the EU.
The signatories emphasize the need for complementary efforts to address irregular migration and asylum, despite praising the recently completed New Pact on Migration and Asylum for providing a strong legal framework. They argue that offshoring could also facilitate the process of returning applicants who are denied international protection to their countries of origin, which has been a challenging aspect of EU migration policy. Proposals include establishing return hub mechanisms outside the bloc and sending asylum seekers to safe third countries for processing.
The letter advocates for stronger rules to combat the instrumentalization of migration, human trafficking, and smuggling, while emphasizing the importance of complying with international legal obligations, including the principle of non-refoulement and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. The signatories call for comprehensive, mutually beneficial partnerships with countries along migratory routes, similar to agreements the EU has made with Turkey, Tunisia, and Egypt. The letter’s timing coincides with the completion of the New Pact on Migration and Asylum, which received final approval and will take two years to become fully enforceable.
The proposal to outsource migration and asylum policy to partner countries outside the EU has gained prominence since the COVID-19 pandemic but is still controversial due to legal and humanitarian concerns. The letter represents an unapologetic endorsement of this trend and highlights the growing support for offshoring among a significant number of member states. The call for outsourcing policy tasks to neighbouring countries and setting up mechanisms to process asylum seekers and facilitate returns outside the EU reflects a shift in approach towards managing irregular migration and asylum within the European Union.
The coalition of 15 member states, including Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Italy, and Austria, explicitly supports outsourcing migration and asylum policy and proposes specific measures to address irregular migration and improve returns processes. The signatories suggest setting up return hub mechanisms and processing asylum claims in safe third countries outside the EU to alleviate pressure on national authorities. The letter underscores the need for complementary efforts alongside the New Pact on Migration and Asylum to effectively manage migration and asylum, emphasizing partnerships with countries along migratory routes and strict adherence to international legal obligations.
