Five EU nations inch towards deal on migrant ‘return hubs’ by 2027

What the report says

Five European Union members — Germany, Austria, Greece, Denmark and the Netherlands — are moving toward an agreement to send some migrants without legal residency to facilities outside the bloc, according to Reuters reporting published by Al Jazeera on Sept. 4, 2026. The countries, which call themselves the Group of Five, said they want to reach deals this year with a third country, though they have not identified where any return centres would be located.

Danish Immigration and Integration Minister Morten Bodskov said the governments expect to have a shared understanding with a partner country around New Year and described the plan as a “new chance” for people to build a life elsewhere. He also said the five states will consult with the International Organization for Migration and the UN refugee agency, UNHCR. A UNHCR spokesperson said the agency had not been given details and could not comment.

The group plans to meet again in Munich at the end of September to push the proposal forward. German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said the aim is to secure agreements with third countries that would allow return hubs to be established.

The idea comes as the European Parliament has backed migration reforms intended to speed up deportations and permit overseas centres, while human rights groups and the Council of Europe have warned that such hubs could create serious risks for asylum seekers. Critics, including the Danish Refugee Council, argue the policy may not deter dangerous migration routes and could undermine basic protections.