Greece is joining forces with four European countries to establish migrant return centers in third countries, most likely in Africa, for those whose asylum claims are rejected, the country’s migration minister said Wednesday.
Speaking on Greek state broadcaster ERT, Thanos Plevris explained that Greece is collaborating with Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, and Denmark to create the so-called “return hubs,” “preferably in Africa.” Ministers from the five nations have already convened to discuss the plan, and technical teams are scheduled to meet next week.
“We are not speaking theoretically any more, we are speaking practically,” Plevris said. While he did not reveal which countries might host the hubs, he emphasized that the selection of Africa “is not binding.” He added that the larger European nations are leading discussions with potential host countries, “but we are participating too.”
According to the minister, the hubs would target migrants whose asylum requests are denied and whose home countries refuse to accept them. Plevris said the centers are also intended to deter prospective migrants unlikely to secure asylum. He noted that an initial plan could be ready in the coming months, though it remains unclear when the centers would start operating.
Greece, positioned on Europe’s southeastern edge, has long served as a gateway to the EU for people fleeing conflict and poverty across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Each year, tens of thousands arrive, often on perilous journeys, crossing from Turkey to Greek islands in the Aegean or making longer Mediterranean voyages from North Africa to southern islands such as Gavdos and Crete.
Athens has increasingly hardened its migration policies, and its coast guard has faced repeated accusations of “pushbacks,” or deporting new arrivals without allowing asylum applications. The government strongly denies such claims.
Plevris highlighted a decline in irregular arrivals: “There has been a 21% reduction in people arriving in the country illegally in 2025 compared to 2024,” translating to 13,000 fewer arrivals, with a 40% decrease over the past five months.
Last week, European lawmakers approved new immigration rules allowing countries to deny asylum and deport migrants who either come from designated safe countries or could seek asylum outside the EU’s 27-nation bloc.
Focusing now on returns, Plevris said Greece carries out roughly 5,000–7,000 returns each year. But with 40,000–50,000 new arrivals annually, about half of whom are denied asylum, the current rate is insufficient, he said, according to AP’s report.
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The minister added that he will travel to Rome next week to meet with Italian and Spanish counterparts, as well as “the equivalent minister” from Pakistan, aiming to strengthen cooperation with countries of origin on returns.