Interior ministers from the "Group of Implementers" are convening at the Austrian Ministry of the Interior in Vienna this Monday to advance plans for migrant deportation centers located outside the European Union. The group, which includes Austria, Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Greece, is meeting on the sidelines of the annual Vienna Migration Conference. A spokesperson for Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner confirmed the gathering on Friday, noting that the five nations aim to establish a framework for returning migrants to third countries.
The push for external processing centers has gained momentum following the approval of a new return regulation by EU interior ministers in early October. Austrian Minister Gerhard Karner recently told the newspaper Die Welt that the group intends to present concrete results by the end of this year, with the goal of beginning deportations to a non-European return center as early as next year. Denmark has already laid the groundwork for such a move, having passed a national law regarding deportation centers in June 2022.
Potential Partners and Diplomatic Efforts
While no final location has been confirmed, several countries have been identified as potential hosts for these facilities, including Rwanda, Uganda, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan. The presence of Rwandan Interior Minister Vincent Biruta at the Vienna Migration Conference, organized by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), underscores the ongoing diplomatic outreach to African partners. Additionally, Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker is scheduled to receive Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in Vienna on Monday. Frederiksen recently noted at the European Political Community summit that the possibility of establishing a center outside Europe is "getting closer."
Legal Hurdles and Human Rights Concerns
The proposal faces significant legal and ethical challenges. Previous attempts by the United Kingdom to launch deportation flights to Rwanda were blocked by both the UK Supreme Court and the European Court of Human Rights. These precedents have fueled criticism from human rights organizations. Aimée Stuflesser, an expert with Amnesty International Austria, has called on the Austrian government to abandon the initiative and speak out against the creation of external deportation centers, citing concerns over the protection of asylum seekers.
