European justice and interior ministers convened in Copenhagen this week for an informal meeting, with a primary focus on strengthening migration policies. German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, representing the CSU party, stated the aim was to emphasize a heightened focus on returns and to curtail human smuggling networks, ultimately aiming for a reduction in irregular migration.
Discussions centered on innovative approaches to migration management, notably the concept of “Return Hubs”. Dobrindt expressed strong support for these hubs, emphasizing their necessity and the requirement of partner countries to facilitate the repatriation of asylum seekers whose claims have been rejected. Ideally, these partner nations would be located in proximity to the individuals’ countries of origin, allowing for repatriation and subsequent accommodation closer to their home environments.
Acknowledging the challenges individual member states have faced in pursuing such arrangements independently, Dobrindt suggested exploring solutions coordinated at the European level to enhance implementation effectiveness. He also indicated the possibility of smaller groups of nations collaborating beneath the broader European framework to explore and pilot alternative strategies. The initiative aims to foster a more unified and potentially more successful approach to managing migration flows.