Five European Union member states have agreed to a joint initiative aimed at transferring rejected asylum seekers to "return hubs" located outside the bloc's borders by 2027. The agreement between Denmark, Greece, Austria, Germany, and the Netherlands was reached during talks hosted in Copenhagen focused on establishing migrant detention centers outside of Europe.
Danish Migrations Minister Morten Bodskov announced that the participating nations expect to secure an agreement with an external partner country in the near future. "Around New Year, we expect to have a common understanding with a partner country outside of the European Union," Bodskov said. While officials have not officially disclosed which nations are being negotiated with, Uganda and Rwanda are widely viewed as potential candidates.
Greek Migration and Asylum Minister Thanos Plevris confirmed the timeline upon arriving at the Copenhagen meeting, stating that the collective goal is to have "the return hub operational in a country outside the European Union by 2027."
Denmark clarified its own schedule for the project, indicating readiness to begin sending rejected applicants to these offshore facilities by the end of 2027 rather than the start of the year. Bodskov defended the strict stance, asserting, "We do not accept that foreigners staying illegally in Denmark should be rewarded because of our difficulties in returning them."
The move aligns with a broader shift in European migration policy. In June, the European Parliament approved more stringent regulations that granted authorities expanded detention powers and paved the way for the creation of such "return hubs." However, the concept has drawn sharp condemnation from human rights organizations.
Similar offshore migration schemes have faced significant obstacles. The United Kingdom recently abandoned its controversial plan to deport undocumented migrants to Rwanda, while Italy's initiative to process asylum seekers in Albanian facilities has struggled with legal challenges and a slow operational start.
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