Overview
- Parliament, which voted Thursday 389–206, approved a mandate to negotiate rules that would allow rejected asylum seekers to be sent to centers outside the EU.
- Under the plan, people denied asylum could be transferred to these hubs and those who refuse relocation could face detention and entry bans.
- Germany and the Netherlands want agreements with third countries by the end of this year, with Austria, Denmark and Greece also working on plans to set up hubs by the end of 2026.
- Negotiations with EU governments began hours after the vote, with one lead official from Cyprus saying he is aiming for a deal by the end of June.
- Humanitarian groups warn the centers could become legal black holes, and they point to failed or stalled national attempts such as the UK’s abandoned Rwanda plan and Italy’s legally challenged facilities in Albania.