Five EU countries—Denmark, Austria, Germany, the Netherlands and Greece—agree on a shared approach to set up “return hubs” for people whose asylum applications are rejected. The countries aim to negotiate arrangements with partner non-EU governments and work toward starting operations around 2027, with some reporting targeting a first phase as early as January 1.
Outlets describe the plan as offshore or outside-EU processing and repatriation arrangements, intended to manage removals after asylum decisions. Several sources say the location of any hub and the identity of partner countries are not publicly disclosed. Some reporting frames the initiative as aligning with international legal frameworks, while other outlets highlight that human rights groups raise concerns about potential risks to migrants and the legality and conditions of detention-like settings. Despite differences in emphasis—such as timelines, legal framing, and rights concerns—the overall picture is consistent: the five governments move forward with negotiations to create non-EU return facilities based on a common model.
