Five European countries have announced plans to establish agreements this year to transfer migrants without legal residency to facilities located outside the European Union. The initiative, disclosed at a meeting hosted by Denmark in Copenhagen, involves Germany, Austria, Greece, Denmark, and the Netherlands, collectively referred to as the Group of Five. The group indicated they had taken concrete steps toward securing deals with unnamed non-EU countries to host these return centers.

German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said the objective is to finalize agreements within the year that would allow for the creation of "return hubs," aiming to streamline the process of repatriating migrants who do not qualify for legal residency. The Group of Five is scheduled to meet again later this month in Munich to further advance these discussions.

The push for return hubs follows the European Parliament’s approval in June of a revised migration policy designed to accelerate deportations and enable member states to establish centers abroad. While proponents argue these measures can improve migration management, critics have voiced concerns about the potential erosion of protections for asylum seekers.

The Council of Europe, a pan-European body dedicated to promoting human rights and democracy, cautioned in July that return hubs could pose "considerable human rights risks." Other organizations have similarly expressed apprehension about the humanitarian implications of outsourcing return procedures.

Charlotte Slente, Secretary General of the Danish Refugee Council, advocated for full implementation of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum instead. The pact emphasizes enhanced border screening, faster asylum processing, expedited return procedures, and expanded use of digital technologies to manage claims. Slente argued that return hubs focus on a limited number of returns, may fail to deter dangerous migration routes, and risk infringing on fundamental human rights.

Danish Immigration and Integration Minister Morten Bodskov stated that Denmark expects to have the infrastructure ready to send migrants to these hubs by the end of 2027. He described the initiative as providing an opportunity for migrants to "have a life in a partner country." Bodskov also noted ongoing dialogue with United Nations agencies, including the International Organization for Migration and the UN Refugee Agency, as part of the next steps in developing the program.