Five EU states aim to sign migrant return hub deals with non-EU country in 2026

September 4, 2026 at 11:52 PM2 min

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Germany, Austria, Greece, Denmark and the Netherlands aim to sign deals this year with an unspecified non-EU country to host migrant return facilities. Danish Immigration Minister Morten Bodskov said the group expects a common understanding with a partner country around New Year. The five nations will reconvene in Munich at the end of September to advance the plan.

Key Facts

The Group of Five aims to sign deals this year to send migrants without legal residency to countries outside the EU.
Danish Immigration Minister Morten Bodskov said the group expects a common understanding with a partner country around New Year.
The Group of Five will reconvene in Munich, Germany, at the end of September to advance the plan.
The Council of Europe said in July that the proposed return hubs posed considerable human rights risks.

The Group of Five Plan

Germany, Austria, Greece, Denmark and the Netherlands, known as the Group of Five, aim to sign deals this year to send migrants without legal residency to countries outside the European Union. The nations expected to host return centres have not been named. Danish Immigration and Integration Minister Morten Bodskov told reporters on Friday at a news conference in Copenhagen that the group expects a common understanding with a partner country outside the EU around New Year. German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt confirmed the group wants to reach an agreement with third countries this year that will enable the establishment of return hubs.

Human Rights Concerns

The Council of Europe, a non-EU body that promotes human rights, democracy and the rule of law, said in July that the proposed return hubs posed considerable human rights risks. Danish Refugee Council Secretary-General Charlotte Slente said return hubs focus on a small number of returns, will not stop people from taking even more dangerous routes, and could violate basic human rights. A spokesperson for UNHCR said the agency had not been approached with details of the proposal and therefore could not comment.