London wants return centres for migrants

The UK is to begin talks to set up overseas return centres for asylum seekers whose applications have been rejected.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer made the announcement of the new measure during a trip to Albania, but did not provide further details. “What we are discussing are return centres” for migrants, Starmer said.

The British Labour leader, speaking to GB News, did not specify the countries with which the London Executive is holding talks.

The European Union has also recently paved the way for the creation of “return centres” outside the bloc’s borders to speed up the expulsion of undocumented migrants.

Starmer's visit, the first by a British prime minister to Albania, is aimed at stepping up efforts to disrupt criminal networks that fuel illegal immigration through the Western Balkans , the London government said in a statement.

Keir Starmer is expected to visit the port of Durres, Albania's largest port, which is considered a key geographical point in the fight against illegal immigration networks.

“Our joint work to deter, detect and remove illegal migrants is further proof that working upstream to protect Britain’s coastline and our borders is the right approach,” the Prime Minister said.

Tirana and London already signed a cooperation agreement on migration in 2022, during the previous Conservative government.