Five European Union countries are advancing plans to establish return hubs in Africa for migrants with no legal right to remain in the bloc, with a first agreement potentially reached before the end of 2026.
Denmark, Germany, Austria, Greece and the Netherlands are working together on the proposed scheme, which was discussed by their ministers during an EU meeting in Luxembourg.
Danish Interior Minister Morten Bodskov said negotiations were progressing, telling reporters that the countries were “moving in the right direction” but providing no further details about the discussions.
Germany’s Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said talks with potential partner countries were still at a preliminary stage. He said more work was required to ensure any agreement could withstand possible legal challenges but expressed hope that the first deal could be concluded by the end of the year.
The EU ministers were also preparing to approve tougher migration rules that would allow member states to establish return hubs outside the bloc and give authorities broader powers to detain people facing removal. The discussions included enhanced cooperation with priority non-EU countries to facilitate the return of migrants who have no right to stay.
EU Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner said Pakistan and Bangladesh were among the countries being prioritised because of their role in migration routes towards Europe. Migrants from those countries can travel through the Gulf and Egypt towards Libya, from where many attempt to cross the Mediterranean by boat.
Rwanda has emerged as a possible destination for the first return hub. Two Green Party members of the European Parliament, Anna Strolenberg and Tineke Strik, said officials in Rwanda told them during a recent visit that the country was negotiating with the five EU states. Strolenberg said Rwanda was “most likely” to be the first country to reach an agreement, although no deal has been officially announced.
The proposed return hubs have drawn opposition from human-rights advocates and some European lawmakers, who have raised concerns about detention, legal safeguards and the treatment of migrants transferred outside the EU. The participating governments, however, argue that any agreements must be legally sustainable and capable of operating over the long term as the bloc seeks to increase the number of migrants returned to their countries of origin.
