Greece aims to create a center for rejected migrants in Africa: agreement with one country reached

Greece has announced that during its presidency of the Council of the European Union, in the summer of 2027, it plans to set up a European center in Africa for the deportation of migrants.

The project for housing and repatriating people whose asylum applications have been finally rejected by the EU appears to be taking concrete shape. Greek Migration Minister Thanos Plevris said Athens has already reached an agreement with one country, but its name cannot yet be made public.

Greece to lead the EU Council

From July 2027, Greece will hold the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union for six months. According to Plevris, this period could create the necessary conditions for the repatriation center to begin operating.

However, it is not clear whether the selected country has already given its approval to the plan or to what extent this initiative has been coordinated with other EU member states.

The Greek minister announced that he will soon hold talks on this issue with representatives of Germany, Austria, the Netherlands and Denmark. These countries have long supported the idea of creating “return hubs,” or return centers, outside the territory of the European Union.

Rwanda in focus of negotiations

During the summer, discussions on carrying out the project focused particularly on Rwanda. Nevertheless, other African or Asian countries may also be under consideration. Earlier, Italy negotiated the opening of similar repatriation centers in Albania.

The centers would serve to accommodate asylum seekers whose applications have been definitively rejected in the EU and who cannot be returned directly to their countries of origin.

Human rights organizations oppose these plans, warning that such centers could contribute to the criminalization of migration. /DW