EU vows not to create ‘Guantanamo Bay for migrants’ outside bloc

The EU said Thursday it was discussing plans with UN agencies to set up migrant processing centers in north African and other countries but insisted it would not create a “Guantanamo Bay for migrants.”

The European Commission, the bloc’s executive arm, said it envisaged deals that fully protect migrants rescued at sea, under a proposal that will be debated at next week’s EU summit in Brussels.

“I want to be very clear on that. I’m against a Guantanamo Bay for migrants,” Migration Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos told a news briefing.

“This is something that is against our European values,” he added.

Washington triggered global outrage when it began using the US naval base in Guantanamo Bay Cuba to hold terror suspects in harsh conditions after the September 11, 2001 attacks.

“We are exploring together with the IOM and the UNHCR how can we further engage northern African countries in discussions on possibilities for regional disembarkation schemes,” Avramopoulos said.

The EU is already working with the International Organization for Migration and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees to help migrants in detention centers in Libya return to their countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

Avramopoulos said the UN agencies would ensure that genuine refugees fleeing war or persecution can settle in Europe while economic migrants are returned home in dignity and with enough resources to restart their lives.

In addition to north African countries like Tunisia, Brussels is also considering non-EU countries in Europe like Albania.

But Avramopoulos said “no expression of willingness” has come from a potential host country because the EU is still discussing how the centers will work and has made no formal proposal.

“The way I see this is as an agreement of countries around the Mediterranean to ensure the people get the protection they need and are treated with the dignity they deserve,” the Greek commissioner said. “But it must also mean that getting on the boat does not mean a free ride to the European Union,” he said.