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International negotiations set to begin on Wednesday aim to transform how the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) addresses migration-related cases. The British government is spearheading efforts to modernise approaches that countries use to manage illegal migration across Europe. These discussions represent a major move toward potentially revising international human rights laws to enable states to more effectively combat people smuggling and develop ‘returns hubs’—facilities to detain individuals without legal rights to remain in Europe.
Ahead of the upcoming talks in Strasbourg, UK leader Sir Keir Starmer and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen jointly called on other nations to reassess human rights protections so border security could be strengthened. They emphasized the importance of coordinated action among European countries in response to what they described as an “uncontrolled migration” crisis that threatens public trust in governments. They stressed that past European challenges had been overcome through unity and urged that this proactive spirit be renewed to prevent divisive forces from gaining ground.
Opponents of reform argue that claims about the ECHR hindering the removal of illegal migrants are overstated, while critics believe the court currently limits the ability to control borders. The talks come as nine member states, led by Italy and Denmark, earlier this year publicly called for changes to the system. Although the UK did not formally sign that call, it has actively lobbied behind the scenes to initiate discussions on the issue. Migration and the UK’s membership of the convention remain politically sensitive topics, with some parties openly advocating withdrawal from the treaty, while others defend its role in safeguarding freedoms.
The UK delegation to the meeting will be led by Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, who is expected to reaffirm the UK’s commitment to the ECHR, with a clear message that interpretations of the rights it guarantees should not obstruct efforts to tackle people smuggling. The agenda includes difficult matters such as enforcing human rights-compliant migrant detention centres outside Europe (“returns hubs”), and legal debates surrounding Article 8 (right to family life) and Article 3 (prohibition of inhumane treatment), which are frequently cited in migration cases. Alain Berset, head of the Council of Europe, has expressed readiness to engage on reform while maintaining that the convention’s framework remains vital to balancing liberty, security, justice, and responsibility
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