EU Commission Says It Is Not Involved in Uganda Migration Hub Talks

The European Commission said Thursday that it is not participating in discussions over the possible creation of a migrant return center in Uganda, stressing that any reported negotiations are being conducted by individual EU member states.

European Commission spokesperson Guillaume Mercier told reporters in Brussels that the European Union has a legal framework governing return hubs under its Return Regulation. However, he said the Commission has not received any concrete proposal identifying a specific country for such a facility.

His comments followed reports that Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Denmark and Greece are holding advanced discussions over the possibility of establishing an offshore migrant return center in Uganda.

Mercier said the Commission would be prepared to examine any formal and sufficiently developed proposal submitted by member states. He nevertheless emphasized that the Commission itself is not currently involved in the reported talks.

The issue comes as several European governments explore new approaches to managing the return of migrants who do not have the legal right to remain in the EU.

Any future proposal would have to be assessed under existing European legal and regulatory requirements before it could move forward.
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