Five European Union member states are moving forward with plans to establish migrant “return hubs” outside the bloc, with Greece saying the first facility could become operational in Africa during the second half of 2027.

The initiative involves Greece, Germany, Austria, Denmark and the Netherlands, which have been working on a common model for facilities intended to accommodate people who have exhausted asylum procedures and have no legal right to remain in the European Union.

The proposed centres are part of a wider EU effort to improve the return of people who have received final decisions requiring them to leave. The European Commission’s new Return Regulation framework provides for the possibility of return hubs in third countries, subject to agreements with countries that meet international human-rights and non-refoulement requirements.

Greece has emerged as a leading voice in the initiative. Greek Migration Minister Thanos Plevris recently said his country had identified an African country for a possible return centre but that its name could not yet be disclosed publicly.

Plevris said Greece hoped the facility would be operational during the country’s rotating presidency of the EU Council in the second half of 2027.

Although no African country has been officially announced as the host, Uganda and Rwanda have repeatedly emerged in European reporting as possible locations. Earlier reports indicated that the five governments had been discussing arrangements with potential partner countries, while officials have not publicly confirmed a completed agreement.

The five countries agreed in September to continue negotiations and work toward making the proposed system operational. Under the model, participating European governments would retain responsibility for people transferred to the hubs, while the host country would provide the facilities under an agreed arrangement.

The countries have also indicated that the centres would not be designed as conventional prisons or detention camps. European officials have described them as return facilities where people who cannot remain legally in Europe could stay while arrangements for their return to their countries of origin are made.

The proposed arrangement is also expected to involve financial support from the participating European countries. International organisations such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) have been mentioned as potential partners in monitoring or supporting the operation of the facilities.

The plan comes as EU countries continue to grapple with the challenge of returning people who have been ordered to leave. Eurostat reported that EU countries issued orders for 110,335 non-EU citizens to leave during the second quarter of 2026, while 36,825 people were returned to third countries following such orders.

Supporters of the return-hub model argue that greater cooperation with non-EU countries could make returns more effective and reduce irregular migration. Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner has also presented the initiative as part of efforts to discourage dangerous irregular journeys to Europe.

However, the proposal faces questions over its practical implementation, legal safeguards and the responsibilities of both European and host governments. Previous attempts by European countries to establish similar arrangements have encountered legal and logistical difficulties.

Britain's earlier plan to transfer some asylum seekers to Rwanda, for example, was eventually abandoned after years of political and legal controversy. Italy has also operated migration facilities in Albania under a separate arrangement, although its system is different from the proposed five-country EU return-hub model.

For now, the identity of the African country selected by Greece remains undisclosed. Recent reporting has pointed to Uganda and Rwanda as possible candidates, but neither country has been publicly confirmed as the final host.

If the negotiations succeed, Greece hopes the first return hub could begin operating in 2027, potentially marking a significant new phase in the EU's approach to returning migrants who have no legal right to remain in the bloc.

Reporting by TalkNaijaMedia