Dublin: A total of 46 countries, including Ireland and United Kingdom, have signed a new Council of Europe declaration supporting the use of third-country “return hubs” for irregular migrants.
The agreement, finalised during a meeting of European foreign ministers in Chișinău, is being referred to as the Chișinău Declaration after the Moldovan capital where the talks took place.
Support for Offshore Return Centres
The declaration supports closer cooperation between European countries and third nations in managing irregular migration, including the establishment of offshore return centres for failed asylum seekers.
Several EU member states — including Austria, Denmark, Germany, Greece and Netherlands — backed proposals allowing such return hubs.
Discussions reportedly focused on possible cooperation with countries including:
- Armenia
- Egypt
- Ethiopia
- Ghana
- Libya
- Mauritania
- Rwanda
- Senegal
- Tunisia
- Uganda
- Uzbekistan
Alain Berset said the conference focused on coordinated European responses to irregular migration and deportation procedures.
Sovereignty and Border Control Emphasised
The seven-page declaration states that countries have an “inalienable sovereign right” to control their borders and manage migration flows.
It argues that European states should have greater flexibility in preventing irregular migration and cooperating with transit countries.
The agreement also proposes limiting judicial intervention in deportation cases and calls for a more cautious interpretation of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which prohibits inhuman or degrading treatment.
Human Rights Concerns Raised
Human rights organisations and several political leaders have criticised the declaration, warning that political agreements cannot override protections guaranteed under international human rights law.
Critics argue that the proposals could result in asylum seekers being transferred to countries where they may face unsafe conditions, abuse or inadequate legal protections.
Montenegro also rejected reports suggesting it was considering hosting accommodation centres for rejected asylum seekers.
Previous Offshore Migration Plans Faced Opposition
The new European approach follows earlier controversial attempts by countries such as the United Kingdom to relocate asylum seekers abroad.
Britain previously proposed transferring asylum seekers to Rwanda under a multi-billion-pound agreement that included accommodation, healthcare and job training support. However, the plan faced strong opposition from courts and human rights groups and was never fully implemented.
Similar offshore processing models have also been considered by Italy, Denmark and Australia.
Australia’s detention policies involving camps in Nauru and Papua New Guinea drew widespread international criticism over alleged human rights abuses and prolonged detention conditions.
European governments maintain that stronger migration controls are necessary to combat illegal immigration and human trafficking networks, while rights groups warn the measures risk leaving vulnerable migrants trapped in uncertainty and unsafe conditions.
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