
The European Union is moving towards the “Albanian” model for the return of illegal immigrants. Brussels, according to international media reports, is seriously considering the proposal to establish European repatriation centers in the territory of third countries. The European Commission has indicated that it is ready to examine the proposal of member states, provided that they are based on cooperation with partner countries.
Italy is among the countries that are pushing most strongly for the creation of European repatriation centers in third countries, known as "return centers", which it has tested in the agreement with Albania that received the green light after passing legal tests.
The issue will be at the center of the meeting of European Union interior ministers. One of the most sensitive aspects concerns the possibility of using European resources to finance such facilities, a key element of the proposal supported by the Italian government.
At the regulatory level, the process has already taken an important step: the European Return Regulation, which paves the way for agreements with third countries, has been adopted by the European Parliament and only awaits formal approval by the Council before entering into force.
The proposal came after a severe migrant crisis in Ceuta, the Spanish enclave near Morocco, where thousands of refugees have flocked. The initiative, led by Italy, is supported by Denmark, the Netherlands and Germany, but opposed by France, Spain and Portugal.