Sweden proposes EU "return hubs" to address illegal immigration by March

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson announced that the European Union could unveil a proposal for the establishment of “return hubs” as early as March, aiming to streamline the deportation of illegal migrants.

Kristersson shared the potential timeline during a meeting in Vienna on January 2 with Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer, where both leaders emphasized the urgency of addressing illegal immigration within the EU, Caliber.Az reports referencing foreign media.

This proposal follows growing political pressure from the rise of hard-right parties across Europe, which have placed immigration at the forefront of national debates. EU officials had hinted in October that they were exploring a system where migrants without the right to stay in the bloc would be relocated to safe third-party countries outside the EU.

“We are moving forward with this,” Kristersson stated, referring to discussions he had with EU Commissioner for Migration, Austria's Magnus Brunner, who confirmed that the proposal would likely be presented in March.

Nehammer expressed his support, commending Kristersson for keeping immigration a top priority on the EU agenda. He also highlighted that 18 countries within the Schengen Area, including Switzerland and Norway, had united on the issue of curbing illegal immigration.

“We have managed to shift the focus on immigration, ensuring even countries without an EU external border, like Austria, are now actively part of the solution,” Nehammer remarked. "Only by addressing this issue collectively can we make meaningful progress.”

By Tamilla Hasanova