European leaders propose migrant camps outside the EU

A number of European leaders are proposing to set up centers for the reception of migrants and camps for rejected asylum seekers in a European country outside the EU.

Austria, Denmark, Germany and Holland are among those supportive of the idea and involved in the discussions on the proposal.

“It is really not a project of the Austrian [EU] presidency. It is a national project we share with Denmark and a small group of other member states,” Austrian Prime Minister Sebastian Kruz said at a joint press conference with the EU Commission president in Brussels on 7 June, according to the EU Observer.

“People travelling to Europe illegally cross through several countries and pick their favorite one to lodge their asylum claim. It shouldn’t be like that,” Kruz said.

The European Commission said it was not opposed to the four countries moving ahead with their proposal.

“Illegal migration is a European affair, but it is also a national affair for those member states who are involved, so it is not up to me to be against this initiative,” Jean-Claude Juncker, the president of the EU Commission said.

A day earlier, Danish prime minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen said the camps would be placed in countries that are “not particularly attractive” to people smugglers.

“It would be in a country that isn’t on the migrants’ or the human traffickers’ list of preferred destinations,” he said.

“Based on my discussions with other European leaders… we’ll be able to take the first step this year,” Rasmussen concluded.

TMP – 14/06/2018