Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has suggested that the European Union could present a proposal for establishing “return hubs” for irregular migrants outside the bloc within the next two months.
According to Kristersson, the project could potentially launch as early as March 2025. The initiative follows an October announcement by EU leaders, where they discussed plans to send migrants without legal residency to hubs in non-EU countries deemed safe.
During a visit to Vienna, Kristersson revealed that he had discussed the proposal with EU Commissioner for Migration Magnus Brunner. The commissioner indicated that a detailed plan for the scheme is expected to be unveiled in the spring.
Kristersson’s remarks came during a meeting with Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer, with whom he shares a conservative approach to immigration policy. Both leaders have been vocal about the need for the EU to intensify efforts to address irregular migration.
Nehammer also highlighted that 18 European countries, mostly EU members, now align on stricter migration policies, reflecting growing support for addressing irregular migration.
The debate over migration remains a pressing issue within the EU, particularly as far-right political movements gain traction. In Germany, where general elections are imminent, migration and asylum policies have become key topics of contention. Germany currently hosts the largest number of asylum seekers in the EU, further fueling the discourse on how the bloc manages migration challenges.
