European leaders to discuss asylum hubs outside EU as support for right-wing parties grows
European leaders will discuss new approaches to migration when they meet later this week, including the controversial prospect of setting up hubs outside the EU to process asylum claims.
The idea has been talked about in a growing number of European nations as a solution to the complex question of immigration. It would involve establishing bases in so-called third countries to house people who are trying to claim asylum in Europe until their applications have been decided.
Italy is presently funding the building of this sort of centre in Albania to process some of the migrants trying to get into its territory. Only those whose claims are accepted will be allowed to travel to Italy.
To that end, they are fundamentally different from the Rwanda scheme promoted by the last British government, which would have seen asylum seekers settled in Africa, rather than Britain, even if their claims were successful.
The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has now confirmed that she has asked one of her most senior deputies, Ylva Johansson, the commissioner for internal affairs and migration, to “counter illegal migration”, going on to say that “we should also continue to explore possible ways forward as regards the idea of developing return hubs outside the EU”.
Ms von der Leyen also said the EU could “draw lessons” from Italy’s agreement with Albania, once it had been put into practise.
EU leaders will meet later this week in Brussels, with migration on their official agenda. Among other things, they will discuss strengthening the external border and accelerating the pace of returns.
At the start of last year, the leaders agreed there should be a tougher approach to reduce the number of people coming through the EU borders without permission.
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Take a look inside Italy’s migrant centres
For a number of right-wing leaders, including Italy’s Giorgia Meloni and Hungary’s Viktor Orban, the subject is of totemic importance, along with leaders in countries as varied as Finland, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic and Croatia.
Now the leaders of both France and Germany, the EU’s most important countries, have found themselves under pressure from the growing support of right-wing, anti-immigration parties among their domestic voters. In response, Emmanuel Macron and Olaf Sholz have thrown their weight behind the call for greater action.
Sky News understands one of their suggestions will be harsher countermeasures against countries that don’t agree to take back failed asylum seekers. These reprisals would be likely to include tighter visa controls and even trade restrictions.
However, there are chronic legal problems in returning people to countries that are not deemed safe, such as Syria and Afghanistan. Of all the people who are issued with deportation orders in the EU, it is estimated that only around 30% are actually deported.
To further complicate the landscape of migration, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk is planning to suspend the right of people to claim asylum if they have entered his country from Belarus.
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Although a blanket ban does appear to breach international law, a fear already reiterated by the European Commission, Mr Tusk is holding strong. He will tell leaders that he has no choice but to do so because Russia and Belarus have weaponised migration against his country.
For Ms von der Leyen, the rising tide of political angst about migration is not a huge surprise.
Two years ago, she appointed Mari Juritsch, a Finn with a long career in border control, to the new role of return coordinator for the EU, and Ms Juritsch is understood to be playing a central role in analysing the possible role, and legality, of these hubs.
World
Zelenskyy’s offer to meet Putin raises the stakes in this already high-stakes game of diplomacy
Diplomacy over Ukraine has become even more of a game of high-stakes poker.
In the early hours of Sunday, Vladimir Putin played his hand, rejecting demands for a ceasefire and proposing direct talks in Istanbul instead.
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That was in response to the opening gambit made on Saturday by Ukraine and its European allies.
Sir Keir Starmer, Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Emmanuel Macron among world leaders in Kyiv. Pic: AP
Britain’s Sir Keir Starmer said they were “calling Putin out”, that if he was really serious about peace, he should agree to a 30-day unconditional ceasefire starting on Monday.
And they thought they had Donald Trump’s backing until he made his move.
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Kremlin: ‘We don’t share Starmer’s view’
Late Sunday, he drove a cart and horses through claims of western unity, coming down on Putin’s side.
Ukraine, he said, should submit to the Russian leader’s suggestion of talks.
“Ukraine should agree to this – immediately”, he posted. Then: “I’m starting to doubt that Ukraine will make a deal with Putin…”
So much for the Coalition of the Willing having Putin where they wanted him.
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Are Putin’s call for peace talks genuine?
Trump let him off the hook.
All eyes were then on President Zelenskyy, who has now in turn dramatically raised the stakes.
He will go to Istanbul, he said, and wait there for Vladimir Putin.
Over to you, Vladimir.
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The fast-paced diplomacy aside, the last twenty-four hours have brought Europe closer to a moment of truth.
They thought they had Donald Trump’s support, and yet even with 30 nations demanding an unconditional ceasefire, the US president seemed, in the end, to side with the Russian leader.
He has helped Putin get out of a hole.
Yet again, Trump could not be counted on to pressure Vladimir Putin to end this war.
If America is no longer a reliable partner over Ukraine, Europe may need to go it alone, whatever the cost.
It has been an extraordinary few hours which may well set the tone for a hugely consequential week ahead.
In the time that it took me to fly from London to Saudi Arabia, where President Donald Trump will begin a pivotal Middle East tour this week, a flurry of news has emerged on a range of key global challenges.
• On the Gaza war: The Trump administration has confirmed it’s holding talks with Hamas, which says it will release a hostage amid renewed hopes of a ceasefire.
• On the Ukraine war: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he is prepared to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Istanbul – this announcement came minutes after Trump urged Zelenskyy to agree to the meeting.
• On the China-US trade war: The White House says the two countries have agreed to a “trade deal”. China said the talks, in Geneva, were “candid, in-depth and constructive”.
All three of these developments represent dramatic shifts in three separate challenges and hint at the remarkable influence the US president is having globally.
This sets the ground for what could be a truly consequential week for Trump’s presidency and his ability to effect change.
With his unique style, Trump is seeking to align numerous stars as he embarks on his first foreign diplomatic trip of his second presidency.
For days, it’s been unclear how the week ahead would unfold and which global challenge would be dominant.
The Saudi government has been instrumental as a broker in the Ukraine-Russia conflict and Qatar has been a mediator in the Gaza war.
Trump will visit both countries this week.
President Donald Trump on Air Force One earlier this month. File pic: AP
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Putin under pressure?
On Ukraine, Putin held a late-night news conference at the Kremlin on Saturday at which he made the surprise proposal of talks with Zelenskyy in Istanbul this Thursday.
But he rejected European and US calls for an immediate ceasefire.
The move was widely interpreted as a delay tactic.
Trump then issued a social media post urging Zelenskyy to accept the Russian proposal; effectively to call Putin’s bluff.
The American president wrote: “President Putin of Russia doesn’t want to have a Cease Fire Agreement with Ukraine, but rather wants to meet on Thursday, in Turkey, to negotiate a possible end to the BLOODBATH. Ukraine should agree to this, IMMEDIATELY. At least they will be able to determine whether or not a deal is possible, and if it is not, European leaders, and the U.S., will know where everything stands, and can proceed accordingly! I’m starting to doubt that Ukraine will make a deal with Putin, who’s too busy celebrating the Victory of World War ll, which could not have been won (not even close!) without the United States of America. HAVE THE MEETING, NOW!!!”
Within minutes, Zelenskyy responded, agreeing to the talks.
“We await a full and lasting ceasefire, starting from tomorrow, to provide the necessary basis for diplomacy. There is no point in prolonging the killings. And I will be waiting for Putin in Türkiye on Thursday. Personally. I hope that this time the Russians will not look for excuses,” Zelenskyy wrote on X.
The prospect of Putin and Zelenskyy together in Istanbul on Thursday is remarkable.
It raises the possibility that Trump would want to be there too.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomes other world leaders to Kyiv. Pic: Presidential Office of Ukraine/dpa/AP Images
Israel’s war in Gaza
On Gaza, it’s been announced that US envoy Steve Witkoff will arrive in Israel on Monday to finalise details for the release of Idan Alexander, an Israeli-American hostage being held by Hamas.
The development comes after it was confirmed that Mr Witkoff has been holding discussions with Israel, Qatar and Egypt and, through them, with Hamas.
The talks focused on a possible Gaza hostage deal and larger peace discussions for a ceasefire.
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Gaza after around a year and a half of Israeli attacks. Pic: Reuters/Mahmoud Issa
Just days ago, Israel announced a new military plan to move back into Gaza.
When do candid talks become a trade deal?
Meanwhile, officials from the United States and China have been holding talks in Geneva, Switzerland, to resolve their trade war, which was instigated by Trump’s tariffs against China.
Late on Sunday evening, the White House released a statement claiming that a trade deal had been struck.
In a written statement, titled “U.S. Announces China Trade Deal in Geneva”, treasury secretary Scott Bessent said: “I’m happy to report that we made substantial progress between the United States and China in the very important trade talks… We will be giving details tomorrow, but I can tell you that the talks were productive. We had the vice premier, two vice ministers, who were integrally involved, Ambassador Jamieson, and myself. And I spoke to President Trump, as did Ambassador Jamieson, last night, and he is fully informed of what is going on. So, there will be a complete briefing tomorrow morning.”
Beijing Global Times newspaper quoted the Chinese vice premier as saying that the talks were candid, in-depth and constructive.
However, the Chinese fell short of calling it a trade deal.
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A Qatari gift
In a separate development, US media reports say that Qatar is preparing to gift Trump a Boeing 747 from its royal fleet, which he would use as a replacement for the existing and aging Air Force One plane.
The Qatari government says no deal has been finalised, but the development is already causing controversy because of the optics of accepting gifts of this value.
A Kurdish militant group has announced it is to disband and disarm as part of a peace initiative with Turkey after four decades of armed conflict.
The historic decision by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, comes days after it convened a party congress in northern Iraq.
Beyond just relations with Turkey, the development could have far-reaching political and security consequences for the region, including in neighbouring Syria where Kurdish forces are allied with the US military in the fight against Islamic State.
More than 40,000 people have been killed in the conflict since the PKK launched its insurgency in 1984 in the hope of carving out a homeland for the Kurds, in an area straddling the borders of southeastern Turkey, northern Syria and Iraq, and part of Iran.
A flag showing the face of Abdullah Ocalan at a gathering in Istanbul in March. Pic: Reuters
The PKK is designated a terrorist group by Turkey and many of its Western allies.
A spokesperson for Turkey’s ruling AK Party said the PKK’s decision to disband was an important step towards a “terror-free Turkey” and it would be closing monitoring the dissolution process.
end of PKK opens gateways for resolving a conflict that has lasted for 40 years
The announcement that the PKK will lay down its arms is a significant development and could see the end of an uprising that has claimed thousands of lives.
The PKK has been in armed conflict with the Turkish state since 1984.
The move to disband and disarm follows a call from the group’s leader, Abdullah Ocalan.
He founded the PKK in 1978 – initially, the aim was to secure a Kurdish state, but over the years, the objective shifted towards gaining greater political and cultural rights.
This latest development comes after Ocalan called for a ceasefire in February.
The group says it has now achieved its objectives, and armed struggle is no longer the way forward. Instead, it will pursue its goals through democratic channels.
There are a number of reasons why all this is happening now.
The PKK has been battered by the Turkish military in recent years, and geopolitical changes in Iraq and Syria have made the organisation’s operations more difficult.
For Turkey, it is a win as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan can boast he’s done what his predecessors have failed to do – he can also appeal for support from Kurdish politicians in Turkey to help in his bid for a new term in 2028.
At present, that is a constitutional impossibility.
There are still many questions about how the group will disband and disarm, though: What happens to the fighters and what happens to the weapons?
Questions, too, about the future of Abdullah Ocalan – there are reports that under a deal, he may be paroled. He is currently serving a life sentence.
Unravelling the PKK will undoubtedly be a complex process, but the end of the group opens gateways for resolving a conflict that has lasted for 40 years.
The Firat news agency published what it said was the closing declaration of a congress that the PKK held last week in
northern Iraq, in response to a call in February from its jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan to disband.
The congress “decided to dissolve the PKK’s organisational structure and the end armed struggle, with the practical implementation of this process to be led and overseen by (Ocalan),” the agency reported.
“As a result, activities carried out under the name ‘PKK’ were formally terminated.”
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In other Turkey news: Lawyer disputes claims against Erdogan rival
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The congress assessed that the PKK’s struggle had “brought the Kurdish issue to the point of resolution through democratic politics, thus completing its historical mission”.
It was not immediately clear what was meant by having completed the “historical mission”.
Earlier this year, the PKK declared a ceasefire “to pave the way for… peace and democratic society” but attached conditions, including the creation of a legal framework for peace negotiations.
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