5 EU countries agree on next steps for migrant return hubs outside bloc

Denmark, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands and Greece agreed Friday on the next concrete steps toward establishing migrant return hubs outside the EU, opening the way for active talks with potential partner countries, according to Denmark’s Ministry of Immigration and Integration.

The five countries, which make up the so-called Five-Country Group, agreed on three guiding principles for a future return hub system at a meeting in Copenhagen, the ministry said in a statement.

The model should help bring about a noticeable reduction in irregular migration to the EU and weaken the business model of migrant smugglers, according to the first principle.

The second principle states that the model should be developed as a joint European project in full accordance with EU law and international obligations, particularly human rights.

Under the third principle, return hubs should be established through equal and mutually beneficial partnerships with countries outside the EU, the ministry said.

The countries also agreed to begin active dialogue and negotiations with potential partner countries based on the three principles.

As part of that process, missions will be sent to potential partner countries to assess whether their standards meet the agreed principles and whether sustainable partnerships can be established.

The five countries also agreed on a common timeframe for the national legal procedures that must be completed before the return hub system can become a reality.

Ahead of Friday’s meeting, Danish Immigration and Integration Minister Morten Bodskov had said Denmark expected to be ready to send the first foreigners without legal residence to a partner country outside the EU before the end of 2027.

“We have come a long way in the work of establishing a return hub outside the EU, and we are now closer than ever before,” Bodskov said.

He also argued that the centers could help curb irregular migration by making clear to migrants that they would not benefit from making dangerous journeys to Europe, while weakening the business model of people smugglers.

“It is unsustainable that migrants with no prospect of legal residence pay large sums to people smugglers to come to Europe,” Bodskov said.

The Danish ministry did not identify any potential partner country in its statement.

The initiative follows a June vote by the European Parliament on new rules paving the way for EU member states to establish return hubs outside the bloc.