EU to pave way for return hubs in migration curb

BRUSSELS, Mar 11 (AFP): The EU will Tuesday open the way for member states to set up migrant return centres outside the bloc, in a highly contentious move following pressure from governments to facilitate deportations. The European Commission is to unveil a planned reform of the EU's return system, which critics say is inadequate in its present form, including an extension of authorities' powers to lock up irregular migrants.

Data shows that less than 20 percent of people ordered to leave Europe currently do so. "For any migration management system to function, it must have a credible and effective policy on return," a draft text seen by AFP reads.

"When people with no right to stay remain in the EU, the entire migration and asylum system is undermined."

A souring of public opinion on migration has fuelled hard-right electoral gains in several EU countries, upping pressure on governments to harden their stance.

Led by immigration hawks including Sweden, Italy, Denmark and the Netherlands, EU leaders called in October for urgent new legislation to increase and speed up returns and for the commission to assess "innovative" ways to counter irregular migration.