The European Commission (EC) made a proposal on Tuesday to tighten methods of combating illegal migrants, suggesting, among other things, the creation of detention centers for illegal immigrants outside the EU, despite the fact that this is not provided for by European rules, the EU said.
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The proposal is presented against the background of the electoral successes in the EU of right-wing political forces advocating a drastic restriction of migration. In particular, the EC proposes to create a system allowing EU member states to open centers for migrants outside the European Union.
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“This proposal introduces the legal possibility of returning persons who are illegally in the EU and have received a final decision on expulsion to a third country on the basis of an agreement or arrangement concluded at the bilateral or EU level,” the document says.
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In fact, this means the creation of so-called hubs for the expulsion of migrants, which are criticized by human rights organizations.
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Thus, EU countries will be able to send foreigners who have been refused asylum in the EU to these centers for further deportation to the countries of which they are citizens. Moreover, the European Commission itself will not participate in this, leaving the process of creating hubs at the mercy of the member states.
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In addition, the European Commission proposes to toughen penalties for foreigners who refuse to leave the EU after appropriate decisions. We are talking about longer prison terms – up to 24 months, confiscation of documents and a ban on entry into the EU. The European Commission also suggests that the EU countries agree on the mutual recognition of decisions banning presence on the territory of the Union states. Thus, any EU state will be able to proceed with the procedure of expelling a foreigner from the EU, regardless of where such a decision was made. It is planned to create a common database for this purpose.
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Currently, according to Brussels, only 20% of decisions on the need to leave the EU are being implemented.
