Greece’s migration minister announced the country is collaborating with Germany, Netherlands, Austria and Denmark to establish deportation facilities outside the EU for rejected asylum seekers. The centers would likely be located in Africa and serve as processing points for migrants whose home countries refuse to accept them back.
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greek officials announced Wednesday they are collaborating with four European nations to establish deportation facilities in third-world countries, primarily targeting locations in Africa, for asylum seekers who have been denied refugee status.
Migration Minister Thanos Plevris revealed during an interview on Greek state television ERT that his country is partnering with Germany, Netherlands, Austria and Denmark to develop these “return hubs,” with Africa being the preferred continent. According to Plevris, officials from all five nations have already conducted preliminary discussions, with technical working groups scheduled to convene next week.
“We are not speaking theoretically any more, we are speaking practically,” Plevris stated. The minister declined to identify specific African nations under consideration and noted that the continental preference “was not binding.” He explained that larger European partners are handling direct negotiations with potential host countries, “but we are participating too.”
These deportation facilities would serve individuals whose asylum requests have been denied and whose home nations refuse repatriation, Plevris clarified. He suggested the centers would discourage potential migrants with slim chances of receiving asylum approval. While the minister indicated an initial framework should emerge within months, he provided no timeline for when such facilities might become operational.
Positioned at Europe’s southeastern border, Greece has served for decades as a primary gateway into the European Union for individuals escaping violence and economic hardship across the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Annual arrivals number in the tens of thousands, with most undertaking perilous maritime journeys from Turkey’s coastline to Greek islands in the Aegean Sea, or making extended Mediterranean crossings from North Africa to southern Greek territories including Gavdos and Crete.
Greek authorities have adopted increasingly strict migration policies, with the coast guard frequently facing allegations of conducting “pushbacks” — immediate deportations of new arrivals without asylum processing opportunities. Officials categorically reject such accusations.
According to Plevris, illegal border crossings dropped 21% in 2025 compared to 2024, representing 13,000 fewer arrivals, with a 40% decrease recorded over the past five months.
European legislators recently approved revised immigration regulations permitting member states to refuse asylum and deport migrants from designated safe countries or those eligible to seek protection in non-EU nations.
Plevris emphasized his government’s renewed focus on removing rejected asylum seekers. Greece currently processes approximately 5,000-7,000 deportations annually, but with roughly 40,000-50,000 new arrivals yearly — about half of whom face asylum rejection — current removal rates remain insufficient, the minister acknowledged.
The Greek official confirmed plans to travel to Rome next week for discussions with Italian and Spanish counterparts, including meetings with Pakistani officials to enhance cooperation on deportation procedures with origin countries.