Germany, Austria, Denmark, Greece, Netherlands plan migrant return hub in Africa by 2027

Five European Union countries are advancing plans to establish a migrant “return hub” outside the bloc, with the first facility expected to begin operations in Africa in 2027.

The countries — Greece, Germany, Austria, Denmark and the Netherlands — are working on a joint arrangement for migrants whose asylum applications have been finally rejected and who cannot immediately be returned to their countries of origin.

Greece’s Migration Minister, Thanos Plevris, said an African country had been selected to host the first facility, but its identity has not been publicly disclosed.

Rwanda and Uganda have repeatedly been mentioned in diplomatic and media reports as possible locations, although neither country has been officially confirmed as the host.

The five countries, known as the Group of Five, agreed in September to pursue a common model for the proposed facilities.

Under the arrangement, migrants who have exhausted their asylum options and have no legal right to remain in the EU could be transferred to a partner country while arrangements are made for their eventual return to their countries of origin.

The participating governments have said the facilities would be “return hubs” rather than conventional detention centres, with Greece describing the proposed facilities as open centres.

Responsibility for people transferred to the hubs would remain with the participating European countries, according to the Greek government’s description of the plan. The five countries are also expected to finance the facilities and work with international organisations, including the UN refugee agency and the International Organisation for Migration.

The five countries

Greece: Greece is taking a leading role in the initiative and has said the first hub could become operational in the second half of 2027. Plevris said discussions with the unnamed African partner were at an advanced stage.

Germany: Germany is seeking agreements with non-EU countries that would allow the establishment of return hubs for people who have no legal right to remain in Europe. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has backed the group’s efforts to reach agreements with third countries.

Austria: Austria is also part of the initiative. Interior Minister Gerhard Karner has argued that return hubs could form part of efforts to reduce irregular migration.

Denmark: Denmark has previously explored arrangements involving third countries. Its earlier discussions with Rwanda over an asylum processing centre were abandoned in 2023, after which Copenhagen shifted towards a broader European approach.

Netherlands: The Netherlands is the fifth member of the group and is participating in negotiations for the proposed return-hub system.

The initiative follows previous attempts by European governments to transfer migrants to facilities outside Europe.

Britain abandoned its controversial plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda after legal challenges, while Italy has operated migrant facilities in Albania. The Italian arrangement has faced legal challenges and has involved substantial costs.

The proposed return hubs have also drawn criticism from human rights organisations and European institutions over concerns about legal safeguards and the treatment of migrants transferred outside the EU.

For now, the identity of the African host country remains undisclosed, although Greece says it has already selected a partner and expects the first facility to become operational in 2027.