More than half of the EU’s member states have now officially reached out to the European Commission with a call to establish reception centers for refugees and migrants outside of Europe’s borders. Led by Denmark, this step aims to address the ongoing and complex issue of migration and asylum applications that have challenged the union for many years. The initiative to set up reception centers in third countries is not new to Denmark, which has previously explored the possibility of establishing a Danish center in Rwanda. However, this project was put on hold after the change in government in 2022, when the Liberal Party (Venstre) and the Conservatives (Moderaterne) came to power. Now, it seems that the Danish government prefers a solution involving the entire EU rather than individual national initiatives.
Italy, Greece, and Poland, all of which have experienced a high influx of migrants in recent years, as well as Austria, which has been openly critical of the EU’s current asylum system, are among the countries that have signed the letter to the European Commission. These countries argue that there is a need for more creative and effective solutions to the migration challenge. The letter states that the countries want better capacity to “detect, intercept, or in emergency cases rescue migrants at sea and transport them to a predetermined safe place in a partner country outside the EU.” This should both reduce pressure on Europe’s external borders and improve the treatment of migrants and refugees.
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has stated that there is a growing interest in establishing reception centers outside the EU. This came to light before a summit, where Denmark had gathered a group of eight countries, all emphasizing the need for stronger external borders, more returns, and agreements with third countries. This proposal and the ongoing discussions within the EU clearly show that migration will continue to be a central and challenging political issue in the near future.