Brussels promises safeguards as five EU states pursue migrant return hubs

The European Commission has pledged to closely monitor any agreements establishing migrant return hubs in non-EU countries, insisting that the rights of rejected asylum seekers sent there will be protected.

EU Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner said on June 12 that any such arrangements would also be reviewed by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN refugee agency to ensure they comply with international legal standards, as reported by Euronews.

“Human rights standards and international law is non-negotiable,” Brunner told a news conference during a meeting of EU migration ministers marking the implementation of the bloc's new migration and asylum pact.

The return hub proposal is among the most controversial elements of the EU's migration reforms. Human rights organizations have questioned whether the facilities could become long-term detention centres where rejected asylum seekers remain stranded in legal limbo.

Greece confirmed on June 12 that it is one of five EU countries — alongside Germany, Austria, Denmark and the Netherlands — negotiating with African countries to establish return hubs on their territory.

According to the Greek Migration Ministry, the five governments aim to finalize agreements with the unnamed host countries this year, allowing the centres to become operational in 2027.

Brunner declined to identify the countries involved in the negotiations, saying that responsibility lies with the member states leading the talks.

“We created the rules, we create the basis, but it’s up to the member state to negotiate agreements if they want to,” the commissioner said.

Brunner also argued that the EU's migration reforms are already producing results, citing a 90% drop in irregular arrivals along the Western Balkans route over the past three years and a 67% decline in crossings from Türkiye to Greece's Aegean islands during the first four months of this year.

By Nazrin Sadigova