Germany, Austria, Greece, Denmark, and the Netherlands are moving to establish migration return hubs in non-EU countries. The "Group of Five" intends to reach a final agreement before the year concludes to facilitate the deportation of irregular migrants.

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The Group of Five's push for non-EU returrn facilities

The "Group of Five"—consisting of Germany, Austria, Greece, Denmark, and the Netherlands—is advancing a strategy to move migration processing outside the European Union. This approach,known as externalized migration management, seeks to establish facilities in third countries to handle the deportation of irregular migrants. As the report indicates, this initiative aligns with a major overhaul of European migration policy approved by the European Parliament in June, which allows member states to set up processing centers on foreign soil .

The Group of Five has been meeting regularly throughout the year to coordinate these efforts. Their latest discussions in Copenhagen focused on outlining the concrete steps necessary to finalize agreements with third countries willing to host these facilities. By moving these operations away from the bloc, the group hopes to streamline the return of individuals whose asylum claims have been rejected or who lack legal residency status.

Denmark’s 2027 target and the upcoming Munich negotiations

Denmark is setting an ambitious timeline for the implementation of these offshore hubs. Danish Immigration and Integration Minister Morten Bodskov has stated that his country expects to be ready to transfer irregular asylum seekers to a return hub by the end of 2027. To maintain this momentum, the Group of Five is scheduled to convene in Munich at the end of September to negotiate the operational framework and discuss logistical details with international partners. The ultimate objective, according to German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, is to reach a binding agreement with partner countries before the end of this year.

The Council of Europe's July warning on human rights risks

The plan to outsource deportation has faced intense scrutiny from international human rights watchdogs. The Council of Europe issued a statement in July warning that these external return hubs could pose significant risks to the fundamental rights of vulnerable populations. Critics argue that such facilities could expose migrants to unsafe conditions and limit their access to legal remedies. The report notes that these concerns stem from the potential for shifting responsibility away from European governments without ensuring adequate safeguards.

Supporters and critics remain deeply divided over the humanitarian impact of the proposed return hubs. While Minister Bodskov has framed the hubs as a "humanitarian alternative" that offers migrants a chance to build lives in partner countries, Charlotte Slente, Secretary General of the Danish Refugee Council, contends that the plan will not deter migrants from attempting even more dangerous journeys to reach Europe. Slente has urged the five nations to instead focus on the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, which emphasizes stricter border screening and faster digital asylum management.

Unnamed host nations and the UNHCR's lack of involvement

Despite the progress made in Copenhagen, several critical details regarding the program remain unverified. While the Group of Five has committed to engaging in dialogue with the International Organization for Migration, the specific identities of the host nations remain undisclosed.. Officials have not yet identified which non-EU countries are being considered for these facilities. Furthermore, while the five nations have pledged to work with the United Nations Refugee Agency, a spokesperson for the UNHCR noted that the agency has not yet been approached with specific details of any proposal.