UK joins European deal to send rejected asylum seekers to third-country hubs

"The UK and 45 other European countries have signed an agreement that explicitly endorses plans to send unwanted asylum seekers to third country hubs. A political declaration from the 46 members of the Council of Europe, the body that oversees the European convention on human rights (ECHR), said states had an undeniable sovereign right to control their borders. It is understood that the UK is now seeking a deal with an unnamed third country, similar to the Italy-Albania agreement that allowed Rome to place detention centres in Albania."

"According to the seven-page document, countries should be free to address and potentially deter irregular migration. It said: Amongst the forms of new approaches that have been envisaged by several member states are processing requests for international protection in a third country, third country return hubs', and cooperation with countries of transit. The agreement also attempts to give more scope for countries to deport people to places where they may be in danger of inhuman or degrading treatment, and to limit courts' powers to intervene."

"Ministers have claimed that articles 3 and 8 of the convention the right to live free from torture and the right to family life have been used to prevent people with no right to be in the UK from being removed. Caution should be exercised when assessing whether the expulsion or extradition of an individual to a non-state party would violate a state's obligations under article 3 of the convention, the agreement said."

"The convention has become a significant point of contention between the main political parties. While Keir Starmer backs ECHR changes, the Conservatives and Reform UK have pledged to leave. One leading migration specialist said she "

The UK and 45 other European countries signed a political declaration endorsing plans to send unwanted asylum seekers to third-country hubs. The declaration states that countries have an undeniable sovereign right to control borders and to pursue approaches that address and potentially deter irregular migration. It calls for processing international protection requests in third countries, establishing third-country return hubs, and cooperating with transit countries. It also seeks to expand the ability to deport people to places where they may face danger of inhuman or degrading treatment, while limiting courts’ powers to intervene. It emphasizes caution when assessing whether expulsion or extradition to a non-state party would violate obligations under Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

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