Italy Requests Immigrant Detention Centers Outside the EU

The Italian government has requested the establishment of detention and return centers for immigrants, funded by the European Union and located in third countries. This request was made during an emergency meeting with the European Commission, following the attempt of about 50,000 people to cross from Morocco to Ceuta. Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi stated that the EU must act as a united bloc to stop departures at their origin and repatriate those who do not have the right to remain in EU territory. Piantedosi emphasized the need to implement new models of centers for the external processing of asylum procedures and repatriations in safe third countries. The migration crisis in Ceuta represents a test for the EU Migration and Asylum Pact, which came into effect in June. Immigration remains a sensitive issue in European politics since the crisis of 2015 and 2016, which led to a rise in anti-immigration parties and deepened the divisions among member states. For its part, Morocco attributed the crossing attempts to misinformation on social media and the activities of human trafficking organizations.