Five EU Nations Advance Plan for Migrant 'Return Hubs' Outside Bloc by 2027
Denmark, alongside Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, and Greece, has agreed on a model for establishing 'return hubs' in non-European Union countries. This initiative aims to send migrants whose asylum requests have been rejected to these facilities, with a target start date of early 2027. The announcement followed a meeting in Copenhagen, where officials emphasized adherence to European and international law. Morten Bødskov, Denmark’s Minister of Immigration and Integration, stated that this represents a fundamental transformation of the common European migration and asylum system. The participating countries are currently in negotiations with governments, primarily in Africa, to identify potential sites for these hubs. The European Parliament approved an overhaul of migration policy in June, allowing member states to set up such centers. While the specific third countries have not been named, Bødskov indicated that a common understanding with a partner country is expected around the New Year. 
