EU States Explore Rwanda Migration Hubs Amid Externalisation Push

Germany, Austria, and Denmark are among several EU member states that have sent delegations to Rwanda this week to explore establishing external migration return hubs. This initiative, reported by EU governments explore setting up migration return hubs in Rwanda, reflects a deepening European interest in third-country processing for asylum claims and the externalisation of migration management. The visits underscore a broader shift in EU migration strategy, moving towards partnerships with African nations to manage asylum processes outside the bloc's borders. Such approaches aim to address perceived shortcomings in current return policies and the complexities of international cooperation on returns.

Understanding the effectiveness of these policies requires a robust grasp of migrant decision-making. The Horizon project DYNAMIG is designed to fill critical gaps in scientific and policymaker knowledge by examining how individual migration decisions interact with policies, especially focusing on Africa as a key region of origin. Its objective is to provide a more accurate understanding of migration decisions, which is crucial for effective policy design.

Complementing this, the Horizon project GAPs comprehensively studies the drivers of return policies and the barriers and enablers in international cooperation on returns. It scrutinises the shortcomings of the EU’s governance of returns, both internally and externally, and analyses factors affecting international cooperation. This research is directly relevant to the current explorations in Rwanda, as it aims to bridge the disconnect between policy expectations and actual outcomes in return migration.

What this means: European governments are actively seeking new models for migration management, with a clear focus on external partnerships and third-country processing. These explorations highlight a strategic pivot, aiming to transfer aspects of asylum processing and returns outside EU territory.