The interior ministers of five EU states reached an agreement on Thursday during a meeting of the EU interior ministers’ council in Brussels to establish asylum centers, known as Return Hubs, outside of Europe. German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) told the “Bild” (Thursday edition) that “deportations must be effectively enforced from within Europe”. He added that the Return Hubs aim to create new options and send a clear signal for increased deportations.
In Brussels, a working group on “innovative third‑country solutions” agreed on a roadmap for the Return Hubs. The goal is to give European deportations new elements. Applicants who are denied asylum and cannot be returned to their home countries are to be transferred to other third countries that are close to their home region.
According to the German Federal Ministry of the Interior, after a final court‑approved decision, these migrants could be placed in Return Hubs in third countries. From there, the final exit to the country of origin or to another welcoming state would be organized.
The “Bild” reports that discussions with potential partner states are now set to begin, though the specific partners remain unclear at the moment.
