CHIȘINĂU, Moldova – European ministers are scheduled to meet this week to discuss plans to externalize asylum processes by sending rejected asylum seekers to third-country hubs, a move that has ignited fierce criticism from human rights organizations and refugee advocates. Alain Berset, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, announced that these discussions will take place at a meeting in Moldova, raising concerns about the erosion of protections for some of the world's most vulnerable people.

The proposal to establish third-country hubs reflects a growing trend among European nations to prioritize border control over humanitarian obligations. The move is occurring amid increasing pressure from right-wing political factions to reinterpret the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) to facilitate the deportation of individuals deemed undesirable, including rejected asylum seekers and foreign criminals.

Shabana Mahmood, the UK Home Secretary, has been among those advocating for changes to the ECHR, arguing that human rights laws impede the removal of individuals who have not been granted asylum. However, critics argue that such revisions would undermine the fundamental principles of international law and weaken protections for individuals fleeing persecution and violence.

Berset's insistence that migrants removed from “European soil” would still be protected by the ECHR offers little reassurance to human rights groups, who question the ability to ensure adequate oversight and accountability in third-country settings. The history of such arrangements has been fraught with reports of abuse, exploitation, and inadequate living conditions.

The Council of Europe's discussions follow the collapse of the UK's previous attempt to send asylum seekers to Rwanda, a plan that was deemed unlawful by the UK Supreme Court due to concerns about Rwanda's human rights record. Despite this setback, the concept of externalizing asylum processes remains a popular policy among European governments grappling with migration challenges.

The European Union has also explored the possibility of establishing return hubs, with several member states reportedly engaged in discussions with potential host countries. The list of potential destinations includes countries with questionable human rights records, raising further concerns about the safety and well-being of asylum seekers deported to these locations.