Greece Moves With Four EU States on Migrant “Return Hubs” Outside EU Territory

Bosphorus News Staff

Greece is working with Germany, the Netherlands, Austria and Denmark on a plan to establish “return hubs” in non-EU countries for migrants whose asylum applications have been rejected, Migration and Asylum Minister Thanos Plevris said on February 19.

The concept would allow rejected applicants to be transferred to facilities outside EU territory. Africa has been identified by Athens as the preferred region, though no host country has been announced. Technical teams from the five states are expected to meet next week to review legal and operational parameters.

“We are not speaking theoretically any more; we are speaking practically,” Plevris said on February 19. He added that if a rejected applicant knows they will be sent to a detention facility in a third country, “that acts as a deterrent.”

Plevris also stated that asylum “is not a life-long status,” arguing that protection decisions should be revisited if conditions in countries of origin change.

According to figures cited by the minister, irregular arrivals to Greece declined by 21 percent in 2025 compared with 2024, equivalent to roughly 13,000 fewer entries. Over the past five months, arrivals were down about 40 percent.

Greece currently carries out between 5,000 and 7,000 returns per year, while receiving an estimated 40,000 to 50,000 new arrivals annually. Around half of asylum applications are rejected. The government argues that when countries of origin do not cooperate on readmission, rejected applicants remain in legal and administrative limbo.

The return hub proposal is presented by Athens as a mechanism to close that gap.

The discussion comes as the European Union advances reforms that expand the use of “safe country” designations and allow member states to consider asylum-related procedures outside EU territory.

Human rights groups have raised concerns in previous European debates about transfers to third countries, citing due process and oversight issues. Greek authorities maintain that any arrangement would comply with EU and international law.

The next phase will depend on whether the five participating states can align on host country agreements and legal design.