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UN Refugee Agency Endorses UK Plan for Balkan Return Hubs

The Labour government secures international backing for overseas processing centers, aiming to address record Channel crossings and asylum backlogs.

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More than 8,800 migrants have crossed the English Channel in 59 boats so far this year, 42 per cent higher than in 2024
Yvette Cooper told the UN that Britain would not open new safe and legal resettlement routes for refugees until the “broken asylum system” was fixed and net migration had fallen

Overview

  • The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has officially endorsed the UK's proposal to establish return hubs in the Balkans for failed asylum seekers.
  • The European Commission has also supported the use of return hubs, aligning with broader European efforts to manage migration challenges.
  • The UK government is in discussions with Balkan countries, including Albania, Serbia, Bosnia, and North Macedonia, to host these hubs, with formal talks expected later this year.
  • The UNHCR has outlined strict human-rights safeguards for the hubs, requiring temporary legal status for migrants and adequate reception facilities.
  • Over 9,000 migrants have crossed the English Channel so far in 2025, marking a 45% increase from the same period last year, underscoring the urgency of migration reforms.