The five nations have not disclosed where the centres will be located.
Published On 4 Sep 2026
Five European countries have agreed on concrete steps toward a deal with an unspecified non‑EU country to host migrant return facilities, according to senior officials, signalling growing resolve to address immigration.
Germany, Austria, Greece, Denmark, and the Netherlands — collectively the Group of Five — seek to sign agreements this year that would transfer migrants without legal residency to nations outside the EU. The host countries for the return centres have not been identified.
“Around New Year, we anticipate reaching a mutual understanding with a partner country outside the EU,” Danish Immigration and Integration Minister Morten Bodskov said at a press conference in Copenhagen, without providing further details.
“It presents a new opportunity for individuals to build a life in a partner country,” he added, noting that the five nations will consult with the International Organization for Migration and the UN Refugee Agency on subsequent actions.
A UNHCR spokesperson said the agency had not been provided with details of the proposal and therefore cannot comment.
The Group of Five will reconvene in Munich, Germany, at the end of September to further develop the plan.
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt confirmed that the group aims to reach an agreement with third countries this year to establish return hubs.
In June, the European Parliament approved a migration policy overhaul intended to accelerate deportations and permit member states to create centres abroad, a move critics argue could undermine asylum‑seeker protections.
In July, the Council of Europe, a non‑EU organization promoting human rights, democracy, and the rule of law, warned that the proposed return hubs present “significant human rights risks.”
Danish Refugee Council Secretary‑General Charlotte Slente argued that a more effective approach would be to implement the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, which emphasizes stricter border screening, quicker return procedures, and expanded digital tools for managing asylum claims.
“Return hubs target only a limited number of returns; they will not deter individuals from taking even more dangerous routes, and they may infringe on fundamental human rights,” she said.
