BRUSSELS — French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday that France does not support the creation of so-called "return hubs" for migrants in third countries, questioning their effectiveness as EU leaders concluded a summit in Brussels.
Macron's remarks highlight divisions within the European Union over migration policy following the European Parliament's approval of new rules on returns of irregularly staying third-country nationals. The measures, agreed between the Council and Parliament earlier in June, allow member states to establish return hubs in countries outside the bloc.
"We are in favour of a more effective return policy, but ... I have never seen a return centre in a third country that actually works," Macron said in Brussels.
The EU-wide rules aim to improve cooperation on returns and facilitate the deportation of individuals who have no right to remain in member states. Return hubs could serve as transfer centres or final destinations, potentially in countries with which the EU or individual member states have agreements.
Macron added that he respected the positions of other countries wishing to pursue such hubs but expressed doubts about their alignment with European values. Details of potential funding or specific locations for any hubs remain unclear.
The European Parliament approved the return regulation in March by a vote of 389 to 206, with 32 abstentions, according to reports from the time. The overhaul includes provisions for faster procedures, longer detention periods in some cases, and options for member states to work individually or in coalitions on external arrangements.
Several member states, including Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Denmark and Greece, have shown interest in developing return hubs as a way to address low return rates for rejected asylum seekers, which have hovered around 20 percent in recent years. Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has welcomed the tougher approach.
France and Spain have questioned the practicality of the hubs. Macron indicated that Paris would not participate in building them and opposed using EU funds to support such initiatives.
The comments come amid broader efforts to reform the EU's migration framework, which has been a source of political tension across the bloc. Some critics argue the hubs risk externalizing responsibilities and weakening protections for asylum seekers, while supporters see them as necessary to make returns more effective.
As of Friday, no specific agreements on the establishment or operation of return hubs had been finalized, officials said.
