Five EU Countries Agree on Model for Sending Irregular Migrants to Return Centres

Five European Union countries have agreed on a common model for so-called return centres outside the bloc, with the first agreement expected by 2027. Denmark, Austria, Germany, the Netherlands and Greece have not disclosed which partner countries they are considering.

The centres would hold asylum seekers whose applications had been rejected by the five countries but who could not be returned to their countries of origin. Uganda and Rwanda have been mentioned in earlier media reports as the most likely options, although no partners have been named in the agreement.

The five governments say they expect to be ready next year to send irregular migrants to deportation centres built outside the EU. They plan to finance the facilities themselves and could offer additional funding, commercial agreements or other incentives to partner countries.

“The system of return centres will be created on the basis of equal and mutually beneficial partnerships with countries outside the EU,” the document said. The new model is also expected to lead to a significant reduction in the number of people migrating irregularly to the bloc.

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The system of return centres will be created on the basis of equal and mutually beneficial partnerships with countries outside the EU.