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Topic: Greece Seeks New Migration Partnership Model with African Nations for Return Hubs
Greece is pushing for a new migration management strategy that involves creating return hubs in selected African countries, signaling a shift in how EU member states may handle rejected asylum seekers in the coming years. Migration Minister Thanos Plevris revealed on Wednesday that Greece intends to engage directly with African governments to explore the possibility of hosting return centres for migrants who are not eligible for asylum in Europe.
For years, Greece has been one of the primary entry points into Europe, especially during the 2015–2016 migration crisis when more than one million people fleeing conflict in the Middle East arrived by sea. Although overall arrivals have significantly declined, two key Greek islands located closer to North Africa—Crete and Gavdos, Europe’s southernmost point—have experienced a noticeable increase in migrant landings from the North African route.
Speaking with Greece’s public broadcaster ERT, Plevris confirmed that Athens has already held discussions with Germany on the idea of establishing EU-supported “migrant return hubs” in Africa. He said that Greece has officially expressed interest in participating in similar initiatives alongside other European countries. According to Plevris, several “safe African countries” have been identified as potential partners to receive individuals who are deemed ineligible for asylum and cannot be repatriated directly to their home nations.
While German authorities have yet to comment publicly, the approach aligns with emerging trends within Europe. The Netherlands, for example, recently reached an agreement with Uganda to use the country as a transit location for returning failed asylum seekers—though only for migrants originating from nearby regions. Uganda has also entered a similar arrangement with the United States to receive third-country nationals who do not qualify for asylum in the U.S. but cannot safely return home.
Plevris suggested that establishing return centres outside Europe could have a strong deterrent effect. “Imagine an Egyptian attempting to reach Europe but being transferred to Uganda instead,” he said, highlighting how such a system might discourage people from embarking on dangerous journeys.
Under Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Greece has adopted a tougher stance on irregular migration. The government has expanded border fencing along the land frontier with Turkey and increased naval patrols across the Aegean Sea since 2019. In an effort to reduce crossings toward Crete and Gavdos, Greek authorities temporarily suspended the processing of asylum applications for individuals arriving by sea from North Africa between July and October—an action that drew criticism from human rights organisations.
As discussions around new EU-Africa migration partnerships gain momentum, Greece appears determined to play an active role in shaping a fresh framework for managing irregular migration, returns, and regional cooperation.
