Vienna – Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson is advocating for the establishment of return hubs for migrants who remain in the EU despite having their asylum claims rejected.
“This approach will likely diminish the overall willingness to apply for asylum,” he stated in an interview with TT in Vienna.
Kristersson is in Austria to engage in discussions about migration with Chancellor Karl Nehammer.
The Swedish government has previously endorsed the idea of return hubs—facilities located outside the EU where migrants denied asylum can be sent while waiting for their deportation.
“This sends a clear message that we will not tolerate the notion that there is no difference between a rejection and an approval. It also reduces the appeal of seeking asylum when individuals understand that their chances are minimal,” Kristersson explained.
Currently, only about 20 percent of migrants who are denied asylum in the EU actually leave the union, according to EU statistics.
“These figures are alarmingly high. They undermine the entire system, suggesting that the asylum process lacks real significance. Instead, individuals often go underground, leading to a host of other problems,” the Prime Minister added.
“If the current regulations are insufficient, we need to amend them.”
He mentioned that a proposal from the new migration commissioner may be presented as early as March.
(January 2)
Leave a Reply