The EU should “explore” Rwanda-style offshore migrant processing hubs, Ursula von der Leyen said.

The European Commission president wrote to the 27 leaders of EU member states before a summit on Thursday, which is set to be dominated by talks over migration.

More than half of EU governments have called on Brussels to work on proposals regarding the hubs as they seek to speed up deportations.

In 2018, Brussels ruled out deals with non-EU countries to process asylum seekers, amid ethical and legal concerns. The Commission said such hubs were neither “desirable nor feasible”.

But in a departure from that sentiment, Mrs Von der Leyen wrote in the letter, dated Monday evening: “We should also continue to explore possible ways forward as regards the idea of developing return hubs outside the EU, especially in view of a new legislative proposal on return.”