Belgium to use 'return hubs' without sending minors: Premier

Belgium will make use of planned EU "return hubs" for people without the right to remain in the bloc but will not send minors to the facilities, Prime Minister Bart De Wever said Wednesday.

Addressing parliament, De Wever said coalition partners had raised concerns about the presence of minors in the proposed facilities, which are planned in non-EU countries, according to the Belga news agency.

"We have agreed not to do so. We do want such hubs, but we will not send minors there," De Wever said.

The proposed return hubs, whose establishment was endorsed at the EU level last June, could serve as final destinations or transfer centers for people awaiting return to their countries of origin or to another third country.

Five European countries are seeking to conclude an agreement with a third country on the establishment of such a hub by the beginning of next year, according to reports.

De Wever said the Belgian government supports the legal framework enabling the creation of the hubs, stressing that they must operate "with the utmost respect for human rights."

The plans have drawn criticism from UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk, who said he "deeply regretted" the EU legislation and warned that European countries could not transfer their obligations to third countries amid risks of human rights violations.