Five European countries are striving to establish migrant return centers outside the European Union.
Germany, Austria, Greece, Denmark, and the Netherlands have announced their intention to reach an agreement with countries outside the European Union by the end of this year to establish centers for returning migrants without legal residency.
Ministers from the so-called Group of Five stated after a meeting in Copenhagen that they have agreed on specific steps for this plan, but did not announce the names of potential host countries. This group is set to meet again in Munich at the end of September.
The European Parliament has previously approved amendments that accelerate the deportation process of migrants and enable the establishment of return centers in third countries.
In contrast, the Council of Europe and human rights organizations have warned that implementing such a plan could violate the fundamental rights of asylum seekers.