EU Chief Plans Increased Deportations Amid Migrant Processing Controversies

As the European Union prepares for a major summit on migration, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen suggests lessons from Italy's offshore migrant processing initiatives in Albania. The EU aims to bolster deportations, revealing current return rates are alarmingly low, while facing criticism from political opponents and NGOs regarding the ethical implications of these policies.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has indicated a potential increase in migrant deportations as the EU prepares for a critical summit addressing migration concerns. In her communication to member states, Von der Leyen highlighted the lessons that could be drawn from Italy's recently contested policy of processing migrants offshore in Albania.

Ahead of the two-day summit in Brussels, Von der Leyen underscored the need for a new legislative proposal that might augment the EU's capacity to deport irregular migrants. With the current return rate hovering around a mere 20%, Von der Leyen's remarks reflect a growing urgency to ensure that individuals with orders to leave an EU country cannot evade deportation by moving to other nations within the bloc.

These statements come as Italy begins implementing its long-discussed scheme, which permits the transfer of certain migrants rescued in the Mediterranean to processing centers in Albania. Earlier this week, 16 migrants of Bangladeshi and Egyptian descent were relocated from Lampedusa to one of two specially constructed facilities in Albania, where their asylum applications will be evaluated. Funded by the Italian government at an approximate cost of €650 million, these centers are positioned as a solution to manage the overwhelming migrant influx that Italy has historically faced.

The initiative has drawn mixed responses, with critics including left-wing politicians and humanitarian organizations, who describe the plan as "cruel and unjust." In contrast, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni defended the strategy as a "courageous" measure that embodies the principles of the EU.

This situation is being closely monitored by various member states, many of which have adopted increasingly stringent immigration measures in response to rising support for nationalist parties across Europe. Recent developments in countries like Germany, France, and Poland have seen retraction of asylum rights and reinstatement of land border checks, particularly following high-profile violent incidents linked to failed asylum seekers.

Moreover, amid this backdrop, 15 member states have rallied behind a proposal aimed at enhancing the efficiency of the deportation process, reflecting a decisive shift towards stricter immigration enforcement amidst societal tensions over the ongoing migrant crisis.