EU Plans Return Hubs in Uganda and Uzbekistan for Rejected Asylum Seekers

The European Union is considering establishing return hubs in third countries far beyond its external borders to process rejected asylum seekers. Uganda and authoritarian Uzbekistan are among the countries under discussion. The recent events in Ceuta highlight the vulnerability of European states to neighboring countries that instrumentalize migration in political conflicts. Morocco, in its dispute over Western Sahara, tends to use the EU to support its position, claiming the territory as its own against the POLISARIO independence movement backed by Algeria. Within the EU, the images from recent days have reinforced the consensus on sealing borders, with increasing justification of any means to shield against those in need. This is evident in the political pressure on Spain. The article discusses which countries Brussels will ultimately select for these return hubs.