Greece and Germany aim to create facilities in African countries to receive migrants deported from Europe, Greek Migration Minister Thanos Plevris said.
In a televised interview, Plevris explained that discussions are underway with African states considered safe, which would agree to accept migrants who cannot be returned to their countries of origin.
He emphasized that these talks are being conducted by individual European countries rather than coordinated by the European Union.
“Germany has taken a significant initiative, and we have officially expressed interest in joining it. If these centers are located outside the European continent, they will serve as a strong deterrent to migrants,” he said.
A German Interior Ministry official confirmed that the two countries’ ministers recently discussed “innovative solutions” to reduce irregular migration, as well as the possibility of implementing these ideas among a coalition of member states. Work is ongoing to establish a suitable legal framework for such return arrangements.
Last month, European home affairs ministers met to negotiate new migration rules, including the creation of return hubs for rejected asylum seekers, but no agreement was reached.
Greece has taken a tough stance on migration in recent years. Last summer, the country presented what it described as its strictest proposal yet to discourage irregular arrivals and is currently pushing for return hubs located outside Europe.
According to Plevris, several countries are exploring similar plans. The Netherlands, for instance, reached an agreement with Uganda to facilitate the return of rejected asylum seekers through the East African country, though only for nationals of nearby states.
Greece’s proposal resembles Italy’s project to intercept, detain, and process asylum seekers in Albania. Although the two centers in Albania have received political praise from multiple European leaders and have been seen as a model for others, the initiative remains on hold pending legal review over its compliance with EU law.
Plevris expressed confidence that legal issues would eventually be resolved but argued that Albania’s model is not sufficiently discouraging. Placing return hubs outside Europe, he said, would provide a stronger deterrent effect.