France plans asylum ‘hotspots’ in Libya

To deter thousands of asylum seekers from risking their life to cross the Mediterranean, France will reportedly set up "hotspots” to process refugee applications in Libya.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced these plans during a visit to a refugee centre in Orleans last week, before he presided over a citizenship ceremony.

"The idea is to create hotspots in Libya so people avoid taking crazy risks when they are not eligible for asylum. We’ll go to get them,” Macron told reporters.

As reported by The Independent, his comments followed a speech to a group of new citizens in Orleans, in which he said that France wanted to create ways for Africans to seek asylum in safe countries "on African soil” to avoid dangerous journeys across the sea to Europe.

He said that for many, Europe "from the start is impossible to attain,” adding: "I hope that the European Union, and at least France, will be able to treat asylum seekers as close to their country of origin as possible.

"As I speak to you, between 800,000 and one million women and men are waiting in camps in Libya.”

However, he later downplayed the plans, saying there were no question of "hotspots” in Libya if "security conditions are not met” – and that currently they were not.

A source in Macron’s entourage later told the Associated Press the plan included "advance points” in Libya, as well as neighbouring Niger and Chad.