The European Agenda on Migration of 2015 developed the so-called hotspot approach, which allowed the creation of a number of centres, located on EU external borders, were the registration, identification, fingerprinting and debriefing of asylum seekers take place. These operations should be carried out within 48 hours from the arrival of the asylum seeker (72 hours in exceptional circumstances). If the asylum seekers refuse to be identified, they are transferred in the CIE in order to be identified and returned to their country of origin.
Greece and Italy are the EU member states were the hotspot approach has been implemented during the last years. Six Italian harbours are involved: Pozzallo; Porto Empedocle; Trapani; Lampedusa; Augusta and Taranto.
