EU says it won't create a new Guantanamo Bay with its migrant centres in North Africa as Macron urges Europeans to reject the 'leprosy' of populism

  • Talks are underway over plans for so-called 'regional disembarkation platforms'
  • Migrant processing centres would be in countries like Libya, Algeria and Egypt
  • European Commission bosses insist it won't lead to another Guantanamo Bay
  • Comes as French President Emmanuel Macron warned populism was spreading across Europe like 'leprosy'

The EU has insisted it will not create a new Guantanamo Bay with its planned migrant processing centres in North Africa.

Talks are underway with UN agencies over plans to set up so-called 'regional disembarkation platforms' in countries like Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Niger and Tunisia

The European Commission said it envisaged deals that fully protect migrants rescued at sea, under a proposal that will be debated at next week's EU summit in Brussels.

But bosses say it will not end up being 'Guantanamo Bay for migrants'  - reference to the outrage caused when the US started to use a naval base in Cuba to hold terror suspects in harsh conditions after 9/11. 

It comes as French President Emmanuel Macron warned that populism was spreading across Europe like 'leprosy' and that Europeans should fight more vigorously instead of criticising the actions of pro-European governments like his.

The EU has insisted it will not create a new Guantanamo Bay with its planned migrant processing centres in North Africa. It comes as French President Emmanuel Macron (pictured today) warned that populism was spreading across Europe like 'leprosy'

The EU has insisted it will not create a new Guantanamo Bay with its planned migrant processing centres in North Africa. It comes as French President Emmanuel Macron (pictured today) warned that populism was spreading across Europe like 'leprosy'

Macron (pictured) warned Europeans should fight more vigorously instead of criticising the actions of pro-European governments like his

Macron (pictured) warned Europeans should fight more vigorously instead of criticising the actions of pro-European governments like his

The 40-year old leader has come under pressure at home for not accepting the Aquarius migrant ship that far-right Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini turned away from Italian ports, prompting a war of words between Paris and Rome. 

On a visit to Britanny, a particularly pro-Europe region, Macron urged commentators to fight those who 'hate Europe' rather than attacking him.

'You can see them rise a bit like a leprosis all across Europe, in countries where we thought that would be impossible to see them again, in neighbouring countries,' Macron said.

'They're saying the worst things, and we're getting used to it. They're making provocations, and nobody is horrified by that,' he added.

The row between Paris and Rome over the fate of the Aquarius, a ship with more than 600 migrants aboard, including women and children, drew in Pope Francis and sewed division across Europe, straining German Chancellor Angela Merkel's fragile coalition.

'We accuse Europeans to not be exactly how we'd like them to be, and we forget to denounce those who no longer are like us, those who hate (Europe) and are advancing their plans,' Macron said.

Talks are underway with UN agencies over plans to set up so-called 'regional disembarkation platforms' in countries like Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Niger and Tunisia. Migrants wait to be transported to a detention center, at the coast of Tajoura, east of Tripoli,on Wednesday

Talks are underway with UN agencies over plans to set up so-called 'regional disembarkation platforms' in countries like Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Niger and Tunisia. Migrants wait to be transported to a detention center, at the coast of Tajoura, east of Tripoli,on Wednesday

'We're getting used to the extremes in countries who for years had been pro-European like us, and on this issue our business, journalistic and political elites have an immense responsibility,' he added.

The crisis sparked by the Aquarius has led to accelerated talks between European leaders on how to deal with asylum seekers arriving from outside the bloc. 

The U.N. refugee agency says that around 40,000 people have arrived in Europe by sea so far this year, landing mainly in Italy, Greece and Spain. 

Today, the EU said it was discussing plans with UN agencies to set up migrant processing centres in north African and other countries but insisted it would not create a 'Guantanamo Bay for migrants.'

The European Commission, the bloc's executive arm, said it envisaged deals that fully protect migrants rescued at sea, under a proposal that will be debated at next week's EU summit in Brussels.

'I want to be very clear on that. I'm against a Guantanamo Bay for migrants,' Migration Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos told a news briefing.

'This is something that is against our European values,' he added.

Washington triggered global outrage when it began using the US naval base in Guantanamo Bay Cuba to hold terror suspects in harsh conditions after the September 11, 2001 attacks.

'We are exploring together with the IOM and the UNHCR how can we further engage northern African countries in discussions on possibilities for regional disembarkation schemes,' Avramopoulos said.

The EU is already working with the International Organization for Migration and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees to help migrants in detention centres in Libya return to their countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

Rescuers carry a bag containing the dead body of a migrant at the coast of Tajoura, east of Tripoli, Libya

Rescuers carry a bag containing the dead body of a migrant at the coast of Tajoura, east of Tripoli, Libya

Avramopoulos said the UN agencies would ensure that genuine refugees fleeing war or persecution can settle in Europe while economic migrants are returned home in dignity and with enough resources to restart their lives. 

In addition to north African countries like Tunisia, Brussels is also considering non-EU countries in Europe like Albania.

But Avramopoulos said 'no expression of willingness' has come from a potential host country because the EU is still discussing how the centres will work and has made no formal proposal.

'The way I see this is as an agreement of countries around the Mediterranean to ensure the people get the protection they need and are treated with the dignity they deserve,' the Greek commissioner said.

'But it must also mean that getting on the boat does not mean a free ride to the European Union,' he said.

The EU would make sure the centres are also in a safe place, he said.

EU leaders are to discuss the centres at a June 28-29 summit as the bloc seeks to bolster its external borders.

A mini-summit is due on Sunday to try to break the deadlock over reforming asylum rules that stipulate migrants must be processed in the country where they first arrive.

Countries like Italy and Greece complain they have unfairly had to shoulder the burden since the EU was hit in 2015 by its worst migration crisis since World War II. 

Meanwhile Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Thursday said the Visegrad Four group of countries and Austria agreed to beef up the European Union's external border defence and process migrants outside the EU's borders.

The V4, which includes Poland, Slovakia and the Czech, Republic, met with Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz to discuss immigration and EU budget issues. 

Kurz is the only one of the five leaders who will attend the mini summit on the issue this weekend.