The EU plans to "intensify"
the opening of new migrant hotspots in Italy and Greece to be
operative by the end of November, according to a draft document
for Monday's meeting of EU interior ministers.
Hotspots are specifically-targeted "frontline" locations,
currently in Italy and Greece, in which EU agencies work on the
ground with local authorities to identify, register and
fingerprint incoming migrants.
The intensification will also involve the migrant
relocation process, specifically with the nomination of "liaison
officers" in countries that express their willingness to accept
migrant relocations, "preferably by November 16", the draft
said, adding that correspondingly, "Italy and Greece will speed
up the preparatory steps for carrying out the relocations".
The draft said that "member states, with the full support
of the European Commission and Frontex, will increase the number
of repatriations".
Regarding the issue of possible non-cooperation by
migrants, the document said that "in full respect of human
rights and of the principal of non-refoulement" it would however
retain the right to use all available "enforcement measures,
including, as a last resort, the use of detention."
The document said it would "explore the concept" of the
rather controversial issue of creating centres for organising
migrant access to international protection or repatriation.
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