4.8.1.2. Detention capacity

Detention capacity in EU+ countries continued to be adjusted based on operational needs in 2022.
In February 2022, the federal government in Belgium reached an agreement on constructing three new detention centres and an additional departure centre for irregularly-staying migrants pending their forced deportation (focusing on migrants who disrupted public order or committed criminal offences). The new centres will be located in Jabbeke (112 places), Zandvliet (144 places), and Jumet (200 places). The new departure centre will be located in Steenokkerzeel (50 places).

France expanded the number of places in administrative detention facilities, from which a removal can be undertaken within 48 hours.700  A new administrative detention centre (CRA) was established in Mérignac (near the Bordeaux Airport), with a capacity of 140 places, to increase detention capacity in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region from the current 70 to 210 places. This initiative is part of the national plan for 3,000 additional CRA places by 2027 and the Ministry of the Interior's draft bill on orientation and programming was approved in January 2023.701

Immigration detention facilities became operational at Dublin Airport as of 1 March 2022. This allows up to four persons who were refused ‘leave to land’ to be detained within the boundary of the airport for up to 24 hours, pending a return on an outbound flight. These facilities are used solely for immigration detainees in Ireland.702

In Italy, initiatives focused on detention centres for repatriation, and the Ministry of the Interior was authorised to expand the network of detention centres for repatriation.703  The estimates of the Ministry of the Interior for the construction, acquisition, completion, adaptation and restructuring of buildings and infrastructures intended for detention and reception was increased by EUR 5.5 million for 2023, by EUR 14.4 million for 2024 and by EUR 16.2 million for 2025.

Due to the mass influx of migrants in the Polish-Belarusian border, a central-level strategy was developed in Poland to make additional places in detention centres available in an emergency situation. The strategy has been regularly updated.

In Spain, the Council of Ministers approved a declaration of general interest which included the opening of the Temporary Attention Centre for Foreigners (Centro de Atención Temporal para Extranjeros - CATE) in Arrecife.704  This will address challenges which were encountered in Lanzarote as arrivals remained in police custody on ships, which were overcrowded with minimum health conditions and in which men, women and children coexisted for over the 72 hours which are allowed by law.

Similarly, the SMA in Sweden opened a new detention centre with 114 places in Mölndal.705  Work will continue to further expand detention capacity throughout Sweden. Towards the end of 2024, the Migration Agency plans to open a new detention centre in northern Sweden with 20 places and to further expand the capacity in Flen with 50 places by remodelling an existing property, in order to reach a total capacity of 637 places by the end of 2024.706

In contrast, the State Border Guard Service in Lithuania planned to close Medininkai Camp and reinforce Pabradė and Kybartai centres in an effort to provide better reception conditions.707