News item | 22-05-2026 | 5:30 PM
The government is working on the possibility of processing asylum applications outside Europe. This is stated in a response from the cabinet to Clingendael’s Pushing Boundaries report. The aim of this is to prevent people from making a life-threatening journey and to ensure humane reception of refugees in the region. The government emphasizes that this is a long-term and careful process that requires international cooperation.
Minister Van den Brink: “People are asking for concrete solutions to get a grip on migration. These solutions have been mapped out and appear to be legally tenable. That is why we are continuing to work on reforming asylum policy, including through return hubs and processing asylum applications outside the EU. This does not involve pushing a button, but a long-term and careful process. In this way we break the revenue model of human smugglers and ensure that people who really need our help receive good reception.”
Research Clingendael
The Clingendael research institute conducted research into the possibilities for innovative solutions to shape parts of the asylum and migration policy outside Europe. Clingendael describes five models:
- Return hub: return via or to a third country based on agreements.
- Safe third country: processing an asylum application outside the EU when reception and protection is possible elsewhere.
- Disembarkation platform: reception of rescued migrants at a location outside the EU.
- External border procedure: rapid assessment of asylum applications at the EU external border before admission.
- Migration route screening: selection outside the EU where disadvantaged requests are processed there.
Clingendael concludes that there are no obstacles in, for example, the ECHR or the UN Refugee Convention for return hubs or the processing of asylum applications outside the EU. Adjustments to these treaties are therefore not necessary. Any restrictions that exist are mainly in EU legislation. According to the cabinet, these restrictions will be partly removed in upcoming changes, such as the Asylum and Migration Pact and the return regulation.
The government therefore remains committed to the development of a joint return hub, together with Greece, Germany, Austria and Denmark. The government is also working with Denmark, Malta and Sweden on options for processing asylum applications outside Europe. The government wants to take concrete steps in this regard before the end of this year. International UN organizations for migration and refugees are also involved.
In addition, the government has signed a political declaration in which the 46 member states of the Council of Europe emphasize that there must be room within the ECHR for an effective migration policy. The government is also committed to ensuring that EU legislation is formulated more clearly and sharply where necessary.
