The European Union has taken significant steps towards establishing offshore centres aimed at handling migrants and asylum seekers, as a coalition of centre-right and far-right Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) has come together to advocate for stricter migration policies. This collaborative effort resulted in a vote approving legal changes that expand the options available to authorities regarding the deportation of asylum seekers, allowing them to be sent to countries with which they have no prior connection. These changes are set to take effect by June, reflecting a notable shift in the EU's approach to managing migration crises.

Among the key elements of the new regulations is the potential for asylum seekers to be deported to nations outside the EU, even if their only experience with those countries is transit. This provision is crucial as it legitimizes existing agreements between member states like Italy and Albania, as well as the Netherlands and Uganda, which facilitate the removal of individuals whose asylum claims have been rejected. These developments signify a growing trend within the EU to tighten borders and limit the avenues for asylum claims, raising concerns about the implications for human rights and individuals seeking refuge from war and persecution.

Moreover, in a separate legislative move, MEPs voted to create a list of 'safe third countries' which will streamline and fast-track asylum procedures for individuals from those nations. Although this may expedite processing, it also raises concerns about the fairness and adequacy of the asylum systems in these designated countries, as it may restrict genuine claimants from receiving due consideration for their cases. These measures resonate with a wider political movement within Europe toward dealing with migration through deterrence rather than integration, marking a shift in the EU's long-standing principles of asylum and human rights protection.