Brussels, October 3 — Against this backdrop of shifting European migration policies, a coalition of five European Union nations, known as the Group of Five, is planning to establish third-country deportation centers, also referred to as return hubs, outside of the EU. The primary nations involved in this initiative include Greece, Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, and Denmark, with Greece leading the initiative and plans to operationalize the first return hub in the second half of 2027.
The Group of Five has been actively working on this initiative, with each country contributing its expertise and resources to make it a reality. Germany is actively drafting the legal frameworks and negotiating third-country agreements, while the Netherlands is coordinating with the coalition to establish hubs, aiming to finalize partner agreements by the end of 2026.
Austria is pushing for these hubs to act as an external deterrent to irregular migration, and Denmark, a long-time advocate of third-country outsourcing, has shifted from solo efforts to joining this collaborative bloc. The initiative is backed by broader European policy shifts, including the EU’s finalized Return Regulation framework, which permits member states to enter into bilateral or collective agreements with non-EU nations to set up these hubs.
This framework provides a legal basis for the establishment of return hubs and allows EU member states to work together to address the issue of irregular migration. The Group of Five is actively leading plans to establish return hubs, which are designed to house individuals whose asylum applications have been legally rejected while they await final deportation to their home countries.
A significant development in this initiative is the potential host countries for these return hubs. While the Group of Five has not formally announced their host partners, diplomatic sources and investigative missions identify Rwanda as the primary frontrunner, with Uganda and Uzbekistan also being considered as potential return destinations. The selection of host countries is a critical aspect of this initiative, as it will require careful negotiation and cooperation between the EU and the host countries.
The establishment of return hubs is not an isolated development, but rather part of a broader trend in international migration policies. The US Supreme Court has allowed the US president to resume third-country migrant deportations, and the EU has approved new rules for deporting migrants to third countries. This shift in policies reflects a growing recognition of the need for more effective and efficient migration management systems, and the Group of Five’s initiative is a key part of this effort.
The initiative has significant implications for the management of irregular migration in Europe, and its success will depend on the ability of the Group of Five to work together and with their host country partners. The establishment of return hubs is a complex process that requires careful planning, negotiation, and cooperation, and it will be important to monitor the progress of this initiative in the coming months and years.
As the EU continues to grapple with the challenges of irregular migration, the Group of Five’s initiative offers a potential solution that could help to reduce the number of migrants arriving in Europe and improve the efficiency of migration management systems. As the Group of Five moves forward with its plans to establish return hubs, it will be important to watch for several key developments.
The selection of host countries and the negotiation of agreements with these countries will be critical steps in the process, and the ability of the Group of Five to work together and with their partners will be essential to the success of the initiative.
