The aim of the initiative is to improve the organization of repatriations from Europe in the future and to return persons who are required to leave the country more quickly to their countries of origin or other countries willing to accept them.
What are "return hubs" and who is affected?
A "return hub" is a return center located outside the EU. These centers are intended to accommodate people whose asylum applications have been legally rejected and who must leave the EU—but who cannot be immediately returned to their country of origin.
There can be various reasons for this: some countries do not take back their citizens, do not issue passports, or there are other legal obstacles. From these "return hubs, " the final departure is then to be organized—either to the country of origin or to another country that is willing to accept them.
How did this decision come about?
The five EU countries involved have been working together for some time in the so-called "Working Group on Innovative Third Country Solutions." Back in January 2025, they had already agreed in principle on the goal of setting up return centers. At the Council of Interior Ministers in Brussels, the interior ministers now decided on a concrete timetable, the so-called "roadmap," for implementation.
Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) told Bild newspaper: "Repatriations must be effectively enforced from Europe. Return hubs are intended to create new opportunities and send a clear signal for more repatriations."
Austria's Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) added that the states also want to examine the possibility of conducting asylum procedures partially outside the EU in the future.
Legally, this will be possible from June 2026 at the latest, as soon as the new Common European Asylum System (CEAS) comes into force. Last Friday (February 27, 2026), Germany passed two major laws that incorporate the CEAS rules into German law.
Where could the centers be established?
Specific locations have not yet been announced. According to media reports, possible regions include North Africa—such as Tunisia —the Kurdish region in northern Iraq, and Uganda.
The Netherlands has already held initial talks with Uganda. Further talks with potential partner countries are now set to begin. The concept is reminiscent of the so-called Rwanda model, which the UK had pursued at times. Under this model, rejected asylum seekers from the UK were to be transferred to the African country.
What is the legal basis?
The "return hubs" are part of the Common European Asylum System (CEAS), which is set to come into force on June 12, 2026. The German Bundestag has already approved the package.
According to EU law, such centers may only be established in countries that respect international human rights standards. In other words, countries that are considered safe and where a fair asylum procedure is possible. Furthermore, accommodation in such a center is only possible if a legally binding return decision has already been made.
What criticism is there?
Human rights organizations warn of potential humanitarian problems. They fear that outsourcing repatriations outside the EU will shift responsibility for vulnerable people and make it more difficult to monitor compliance with human rights standards.
Legal implementation was also considered difficult under previous EU law: courts have repeatedly imposed high legal hurdles on similar projects in the past. Initial attempts of this kind in Italy and the UK failed in part due to court rulings.
What does this mean for European migration policy?
The joint initiative by the five EU countries is part of a broader political debate on stricter measures in migration policy. The aim is to enforce deportations more consistently and reduce the number of people who remain in the EU permanently despite being required to leave.
Exactly how the centers will be organized and which partner countries will agree to participate is still unclear. Negotiations are only just beginning. However, the latest agreement between the five EU countries shows how seriously this strategy is being pursued.
