Von der Leyen urges EU states to consider migration 'hubs' outside bloc

The European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, has called for an exploration of "return hubs" outside the EU in a letter on migration sent to the bloc's national leaders, citing a deal between Italy and Albania as a possible model.

- Jennifer Rankin, Angela Giuffrida.

EU leaders are to meet tomorrow and Friday for a summit, at which they will discuss migration. The commission has said it will propose new measures.

Irregular migrants arriving in Europe last year numbered less than a third of the 1 million people that arrived in 2015 but migration remains a sensitive topic, influencing elections in most European countries.

Germany, wary of a public backlash against irregular migration before elections next September, has introduced border controls with all its neighbours, suspending the freedom of the passport-free Schengen zone.