Netherlands and Germany Plan Return Centers to Close Asylum Loophole

The Netherlands and Germany are planning to establish return centers in third countries to prevent rejected asylum seekers from remaining in the European Union, closing a loophole that critics say effectively turns asylum law into de facto immigration law.

The centers would eliminate the ability of failed applicants to choose which state to stay in, a practice that currently allows many rejected claimants to remain in countries such as Germany rather than returning home voluntarily. Proponents argue the measure would also deter illegal immigration by making the route less attractive, as applicants would think twice before pursuing irregular entry.

"It would be a positive effect if applicants think twice about choosing this path of illegal immigration, instead of taking the legal route to look for a job," the source argues, adding that work seekers do not need asylum law or the Geneva Refugee Convention. The source calls for the EU legal framework to be opened to allow for return centers, stating that the bloc otherwise represents a legal union that makes policy nearly impossible in this field.

Even increasing numbers of deportations and declining migration into the EU do not change the underlying dynamic, the source contends. The planned centers address a situation in which many rejected applicants lack passports or a state willing to take them back, a difficulty that would be resolved by housing them in third countries.

The initiative follows recent moves by both governments: on May 26, the Netherlands announced plans for an asylum summit on third-country solutions, and on May 23, German interior minister Dobrindt said he aims to finalize return center agreements by year-end.