Five EU countries target return hubs in 2027
The Netherlands is helping develop centres outside the European Union, but locations and legal details have yet to be settled.
The Netherlands and four other EU countries want to be able to start operating return hubs outside the European Union in 2027. Rejected asylum seekers who cannot be returned to their country of origin could be sent there. No agreement has yet been reached on the precise countries or conditions.
The ministers of Denmark, Austria, Germany, the Netherlands and Greece agreed a joint model in Copenhagen at the beginning of September. Their aim is to open centres in one or more partner countries outside the EU. The group wants to accommodate people whose asylum applications have been rejected but who cannot immediately return to their country of origin.
Rwanda and Uganda have been mentioned in public reporting as possible partners. The five countries have not officially designated those locations. Under the agreement, further negotiations must determine which procedures will apply, how long people will stay and what responsibility the European countries will retain.
European rules now provide scope for such centres. The Council of the EU and the European Parliament reached an agreement on new return rules in June. It states that member states may, under certain conditions, make arrangements with countries outside the EU. The formal implementation and precise safeguards still need to be developed further.
The Dutch cabinet had previously said it wanted to work on return hubs and on ways to process asylum applications outside the EU. The Dutch government links this to the European migration pact, which has been in force since June. The pact also includes a border procedure for applications with little chance of protection and a new two-status system.
The plans have drawn criticism from human rights organisations. Amnesty International warns that oversight, access to legal assistance and protection against forced return to an unsafe country outside Europe may be difficult to enforce. The organisation points to the human rights situation in Rwanda and Uganda. In 2023, the UK Supreme Court ruled that Rwanda could not be considered a safe third country for the transfer of asylum seekers from the United Kingdom.
Supporters see the hubs as a way to make returns workable when countries of origin do not cooperate. Opponents fear that European countries are shifting their responsibility to countries with fewer resources and more limited legal protection. Whether the plan can be implemented in 2027 therefore depends not only on a political agreement, but also on compliance with European and international law.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- Five EU countries have discussed a joint model for return hubs.
- The Netherlands is taking part in the group.
- Rwanda and Uganda are mentioned as possible locations, but there is no public, definitive agreement on a location.
- EU rules allow agreements on return hubs under certain conditions.
- Human rights organisations warn of risks involving detention, legal assistance and forced transfer.
Left
Arguments Return hubs shift European responsibility to countries that often have fewer resources and less legal protection. Rejecting an asylum application must not mean that someone ends up outside Europe without an effective right of appeal or oversight.
Values International solidarity, equal legal protection and the protection of refugees are central.
Consequences Supporters of this approach fear greater arbitrariness, prolonged detention and forced return to unsafe situations.
Centre
Arguments A return policy needs workable arrangements, but these must remain individually reviewable. Only centres with independent monitoring, legal assistance and clear responsibilities can be compatible with European law.
Values The rule of law, administrative feasibility and European cooperation.
Consequences This approach accepts return hubs only if the safeguards can be checked in advance and suspension remains possible in the event of abuses.
Right
Arguments Rejected asylum seekers must actually be able to leave; otherwise asylum decisions lose their meaning. Centres outside the EU could break the return chain and make people smuggling less attractive.
Values Border control, enforcement and public support for a manageable asylum system.
Consequences Supporters expect less irregular migration, but acknowledge that agreements with partner countries and respect for human rights will remain necessary.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The article's core claims are confirmed by government and EU sources and by independent reporting. Uncertainties about locations and implementation are explicitly presented as uncertain.
- confirmed The Netherlands is working with Denmark, Austria, Germany and Greece on return hubs outside the EU. — This is stated in reporting on the meeting of the five ministers. source
- confirmed The five countries are aiming for operational centres from 2027. — The ministers named 2027 as the target year. source
- confirmed Rwanda and Uganda are mentioned as possible partner countries. — The sources present these as possible locations, not as a concluded agreement. source
- confirmed The Dutch cabinet is working on return hubs and procedures outside the EU. — The Dutch government explicitly mentions both policy directions. source
- confirmed EU rules provide scope for return hubs outside the EU. — The agreement between the Council and Parliament mentions this possibility under certain conditions. source
- confirmed Amnesty fears human rights violations and inadequate oversight. — This is the substance of Amnesty International's position. source
Editor's note
It is certain that five countries have a joint model and a target for 2027. Rwanda and Uganda are possible, not officially confirmed, locations; the precise legal and operational arrangements have yet to be agreed.Sources
- 5 EU nations agree on model to send rejected migrants to return hubs as early as 2027 — Associated Press
- Five EU countries aim to send migrants to return hubs by 2027 — Euronews
- Europees Asiel- en Migratiepact treedt in werking — Rijksoverheid
- Council and Parliament reach deal on returns of illegally staying third-country nationals — Raad van de Europese Unie
- EU: Return hub plans in Rwanda and Uganda risk becoming cruel black holes for human rights — Amnesty International
More on this in Dutch media
- NU.nl — „asiel migratie”
- De Telegraaf — „asiel migratie”
- AD — „asiel migratie”