Fifteen EU nations advocate for the externalization of migration policy.

A group of 15 member states, led by Denmark, have called for the outsourcing of migration and asylum policy in response to the increase in irregular arrivals seen in recent years. They argue that the focus should shift from managing irregular migration in Europe to supporting refugees and host communities in regions of origin. The signatories, which include countries such as Italy, Greece, the Netherlands, and Austria, propose forming comprehensive partnerships with nations along migratory routes to strengthen border controls and processing of asylum applications. They also suggest exploring solutions for rescuing migrants at sea and bringing them to partner countries outside the EU.

The signatories’ letter comes on the heels of the recent completion of the New Pact on Migration and Asylum, a comprehensive reform that aims to establish common rules for all member states. While the signatories praise the New Pact for providing a strong legal framework, they believe that complementary efforts, such as outsourcing migration and asylum policy, are necessary. They highlight the need for offshoring returns, as member states have struggled to ensure the return of applicants denied international protection. The coalition of 15 countries proposes setting up return hub mechanisms outside the EU to facilitate the return process.

One suggestion put forth by the signatories involves sending asylum seekers to a “safe third country alternative” to complete the asylum process, thereby alleviating pressure on national authorities. This proposal aligns with the concept of safe third countries, which the European Commission plans to revise as part of the New Pact. Additionally, the signatories emphasize the need for stronger rules to combat the instrumentalization of migrations, human trafficking, and smuggling, while ensuring compliance with international legal obligations and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. The letter provides a comprehensive overview of the signatories’ proposal to outsource migration and asylum policy and address key challenges in the EU’s migration strategy.

The idea of outsourcing migration and asylum policy has gained prominence, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there are concerns about the legal and humanitarian implications of this approach. Despite potential challenges, the strong support from more than half of the EU member states indicates a growing trend towards outsourcing migration policy. The letter signals a shift in focus towards developing partnerships with key countries along migratory routes to address irregular arrivals and manage asylum processing more effectively. It also highlights the need for innovative solutions to enhance border controls, returns, and processing asylum applications in collaboration with partner countries.

The signatories stress the importance of implementing new measures in full compliance with international legal obligations, including the principle of non-refoulement, and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. They assert the need for equal, constructive, and broad partnerships with key countries to improve the management of migration flows and support refugees in regions of origin. The call for outsourcing migration and asylum policy reflects the signatories’ commitment to finding innovative solutions to address the challenges posed by irregular migration and the processing of asylum applications. As the EU prepares to implement the New Pact on Migration and Asylum, the letter provides a roadmap for future actions and collaborations with partner countries to enhance the EU’s migration and asylum policy.