Uzbekistan Rejects Reports of Planned EU Migration Centres
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan has firmly dismissed recent media reports suggesting that the country is in talks with the European Union to establish migration centres on its territory.
The clarification was provided directly to Kursiv Uzbekistan by the ministry’s press service. Officials categorically denied that any such diplomatic discussions are currently taking place.
«Currently, negotiations on the issue under consideration with the institutions of the European Union are not being conducted and are not planned,» a spokesperson for the ministry emphasised.
The official denial follows a recently published article by Politico. The publication alleged that Brussels was actively exploring the possibility of opening dedicated facilities in both Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. According to the report, these sites would be used to house migrants who had their European asylum applications rejected.
Politico further claimed that similar discussions were being held with the governments of several other nations outside the bloc. The controversial initiative was reportedly spearheaded by authorities in Germany, Denmark and Greece alongside a handful of other EU member states.
According to the original claims, countries agreeing to host these reception facilities for deported migrants would be offered substantial incentives. In exchange for their cooperation, host nations would allegedly receive lucrative financial support from Brussels as well as significantly relaxed visa regulations for their own citizens.
