Asylum centers outside the EU “decades” away

Before the EU elections, several parties are pushing to take the next step in migration policy and, for example, establish asylum centers in third countries.

– I think it is mostly symbolic politics. It is a decades-long process if something like this were to happen, says migration researcher Henrik Emilsson.

Migration pressure on the EU remains high. Last year, the Union took in 1.1 million asylum seekers, with the number entering illegally rising to the highest levels since the refugee crisis.

Despite the fact that the asylum pact is on target, migration will become a contentious issue in the EU in the coming term as well, according to migration researcher Henrik Emilsson at Malmö University.

– We have seen an upsurge of anti-immigration parties in countries where we did not have it before, such as Portugal and Ireland. They will certainly win more power and get greater representation in the EU, he says.

– But even the conservative bloc has signaled that they want tightening.

Agreements must reduce the inflow

At the same time, liberals and groups on the left are fighting back.

One issue that stirs up emotions is agreements with third countries. The EU wants to create more such agreements, especially with countries in North Africa and the Middle East, as a way to reduce the influx and encourage more to return.

But the agreements can be difficult to achieve in practical terms, according to Emilsson.

– You should know that there are very few African countries that want to accept those who do not return voluntarily. There are many families who live on money that people send back.

Another hot issue is transferring asylum seekers to third countries, similar to Britain’s Rwanda model, or a system of asylum centers outside the EU, as Italy recently established in Albania.

Henrik Emilsson emphasizes, however, that Italy’s model is not yet up and running.

– Probably no one knows whether what Italy is doing is legal or not.

He points out that Italy, as an EU country, cannot escape the EU’s directives and regulations.

– Refugees have the right to certain services, the asylum process must be carried out in a certain way. Can they guarantee it in Albania? There will be a lawsuit out of it.

Emilsson assesses that asylum centers in third countries require that the Treaty of Lisbon, the EU’s “foundation”, be changed.

– Then all EU member states must agree on a new treaty, and it is unreasonable to look ahead. It requires the yes of all national parliaments across the EU.

“Decades” away

Several Swedish parties push the issue of asylum centers in third countries in their campaigns – is that a bit dishonest?

– I think it is mostly symbolic politics. If you are not a non-EU country or have some kind of exception, it is basically impossible. It is a decades-long process if something like that were to happen.

In the near future, the EU will also be busy implementing the new migration pact. It must be implemented within two years and involves fairly large changes.

– The EU will not be able to handle any news for a very, very long time.

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