The European Union might submit a proposal as quickly as March on the creation of so-called ‘return hubs’ to expedite the elimination of unlawful migrants, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson mentioned on Thursday (Jan 2).
Kristersson sketched out the potential timetable throughout a gathering in Vienna with Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer, a fellow conservative, through which each males urged the European Union to step up efforts to counter unlawful immigration.
Rising help for onerous and far-right events throughout Europe has pushed immigration up the political agenda. EU leaders mentioned in October they have been contemplating a scheme underneath which migrants with no proper to remain within the bloc may very well be despatched to hubs in international locations thought-about secure outdoors the EU.
Kristersson mentioned he had mentioned the scheme with the EU Commissioner for Migration, Austria’s Magnus Brunner, who had assured him a proposal could be forthcoming this spring.
That, Kristersson mentioned, presumably meant someday in March, in response to the interpreter’s translation of his remarks throughout a joint press convention with Nehammer.
“There’s some momentum proper now,” Kristersson mentioned.
Nehammer praised Kristersson for conserving immigration on the EU’s agenda, and argued there have been now 18 international locations inside Europe’s Schengen free journey space, together with Switzerland and Norway, whose pursuits have been aligned on curbing migrant flows.
The Austrian chancellor mentioned that involved governments had managed to “fully change” dialogue round immigration in order that international locations with no exterior EU border, similar to Austria, have been now extra concerned in addressing the problem.
“Solely after we recognise that the issue have to be solved collectively do we’ve got an opportunity of constructing progress,” he mentioned.
