The European Union is considering suspending some rights belonging to asylum seekers in countries bordering Belrus amid the on-going European migrant crisis.
In proposals put forward by the European Commission, the EU's executive arm led by President Ursula von der Leyen, countries would be allowed to hold asylum seekers at border camps for up to four months, and would allow for faster deportations.
The proposals are the latest EU attempt to deal with what it describes as a crisis manufactured by Minsk.
The European Union is considering suspending some rights belonging to asylum seekers in countries bordering Belrus amid the on-going European migrant crisis. Pictured: Migrants stands in queue to receive a hot food at a logistics center at the checkpoint logistics centre 'Bruzgi' at the Belarus-Poland border near Grodno, Tuesday, November 30, 2021
The EU accuses Belarus of flying in migrants from the Middle East and pushing them to cross through the woods into Poland, Lithuania and Latvia.
Belarus calls the accusations absurd. Rights groups say at least 13 people have died as thousands of migrants have camped in freezing conditions.
The three EU countries that border Belarus have defended their approach of pushing migrants back without individually assessing their cases or granting them a realistic chance to claim asylum.
Rights groups say the practice violates EU rules and international humanitarian law.
Under the proposal by the Commission, migrants would be permitted to claim asylum only at designated locations, such as border crossings.
National authorities would have a longer period of up to four weeks to register asylum applications.
Asylum seekers could be kept for up to 16 weeks at the border, losing a standing right to be held in more suitable centres inside the country.
The proposals are a further example of the EU tightening immigration rules since more than 1 million people arrived in 2015, overwhelming the bloc and dividing member states over how to respond.
In proposals put forward by the European Commission, countries would be allowed to hold asylum seekers at border camps for up to four months, and would allow for faster deportations. Pictured: Migrants warm themselves near a fire at the checkpoint 'Kuznitsa' at the Belarus-Poland border near Grodno, Belarus, on Nov. 16, 2021
Migrants gather to get warm clothes inside a logistics center at the checkpoint 'Kuznitsa' at the Belarus-Poland border near Grodno, Belarus, Sunday, November 28, 2021
Poland's nationalist government has been a leading anti-immigration voice since then, and often
