Germany plans to finalize 'return hubs' by the end of the year

German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt stated that "technical discussions" are ongoing with non-EU countries to establish "return hubs," which are detention centers outside the European Union intended for migrants whose asylum requests have been rejected. Germany and other EU countries aim to finalize these plans by the end of the year. The European Parliament approved stricter migration rules in June, facilitating the creation of these hubs. Dobrindt mentioned that an agreement with third countries is expected this year, following a meeting with counterparts from Denmark, Greece, Austria, and the Netherlands in Copenhagen. He did not specify which countries are being considered. The five EU nations involved are looking to partner with an undisclosed non-EU country for these hubs, with Uganda and Rwanda being potential candidates. Danish Migrations Minister Morten Bodskov indicated that they expect to reach a common understanding with a partner country by New Year, and both the Greek and Danish migration ministers expressed a desire for the hubs to be operational by 2027. Bodskov emphasized that illegal migrants should not be rewarded due to difficulties in returning them. The UK previously adopted a similar scheme under a conservative government but abandoned it after a change in leadership. Italy's right-wing government has pursued a similar agreement with Albania, which is currently facing legal challenges. The legality of the return hubs under EU law remains uncertain, though a legal appraisal from the European Court of Justice in April found that Italian deportation centers in Albania do not violate EU law. However, EU regulations require that deportees receive legal counsel, linguistic support, and maintain contact with families and authorities. Andreas Grünewald, a migration expert with the charity Brot für die Welt, criticized the plans as "practically difficult to implement and highly problematic in terms of human rights," warning that ministers could face "political dead ends." Rights groups, including children's charities and church organizations, have widely rejected the plan, arguing it criminalizes migration. Marta Welander from the International Rescue Committee expressed concerns that the plans could normalize detention in prison-like facilities and warned of potential persecution for deportees. Caritas, a Catholic charity, highlighted the risks of migrants being trapped in a "legal grey area" if detained indefinitely. Florian Westphal, CEO of Save The Children Germany, raised alarms about the risks to children and young people, stating that transferring them to countries with which they have no connection could lead to significant violations of their rights.