Mette Frederiksen pushes EU to set up asylum processing centers outside Europe

At the EU leaders' summit in Brussels, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, together with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and 17 other EU states, urged the European Commission to create "return hubs" in third‑country locations such as Uzbekistan, Rwanda and Uganda. The hubs would house asylum seekers whose applications have been rejected, allowing deportations to be organised outside the EU.

The European Commission presented a new return regulation in March 2025 to replace the 2008 directive, opening the possibility for such centres. The proposal now awaits final approval from the Council of Ministers, expected in the autumn. The plan marks a sharp shift from earlier pro‑migration rhetoric and aims to reduce migration pressure on Europe, but it has attracted criticism from countries like Spain, which worries about human‑rights standards in the proposed host nations.

Opposition also comes from politicians citing concerns over safety and legal safeguards for migrants, while supporters argue the hubs could prevent dangerous sea crossings and curb smuggling networks.