Greece is leading a group of five European Union countries seeking to send asylum seekers – whose claims have been rejected and who therefore have no right to remain in the bloc – to third countries, such as Rwanda, starting next year, reports Politico.
Greek Migration Minister Athanasios Plevris indicated that the group of five nations—Greece, Denmark, Austria, Germany, and the Netherlands—aims to launch a pilot project as early as the first half of 2027 to send asylum seekers with rejected claims to specific countries outside the EU. He added that the project should be fully operational by the second half of the year, coinciding with the time Greece assumes the EU presidency. The plan is being developed as Europe continues its efforts to manage a decade-long migration crisis—one that has fueled support for far-right, populist political forces across the continent.
Plevris emphasized that the plan does not involve the creation of “return centers,” but rather entails designating specific countries to which asylum seekers can go. He stated that there is no talk of asylum seeker centers in the sense of sending people to closed camps in third countries. If an asylum seeker’s application is rejected, the individual would be able to either return to their country of origin or go to a third country outside the EU.
Two EU diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that the first agreement would be with Rwanda. Uzbekistan and Uganda are also being considered as potential destination countries.
Plevris noted that
the countries being considered as options for sending asylum seekers already have large migrant populations
and possess the facilities to accommodate these individuals. The EU nations developing the plan are reportedly open to whatever format the host countries prefer.
Rwanda has long been a focus of migration plans. In 2022, the UK announced a controversial, multi-million-pound agreement with Kigali to send asylum seekers who were not permitted to remain in the UK there. After years of legal battles, the plan was abandoned. The timeline proposed by Plevris is ambitious, given that several key aspects of the agreement remain unresolved. The Minister stated that representatives of the group of countries are currently consulting with relevant organizations to establish oversight procedures ensuring that the human rights of asylum seekers are respected in third countries. He added that, naturally, this mandate would not be delegated to others; while the plan’s proponents seek the involvement and expertise of international organizations, the responsibility will rest jointly with all five nations.
The funding required for the plan will also come from the five participating countries; Plevris noted that they aim for a financially realistic project, though the group would eventually like to see active involvement from the European Commission. He acknowledged that the plan does not entail transferring large numbers of asylum seekers to third countries; rather,
it is a means of increasing pressure to boost the number of voluntary returns.
During a meeting with EU interior ministers on the 1st of October, Plevris will also present Greece’s plan for addressing acute migratory pressure, which includes the option to temporarily suspend the acceptance of asylum applications from new migrants. He stated that migration within the EU would only function effectively if migration flows were managed, adding that the bloc requires mechanisms to handle emergency situations.
Greece frequently faces criticism regarding violations of EU regulations and the turning back of illegal migrants. The minister maintained that Greece guards its borders in accordance with international law and will offer no apologies for doing so.
Plevris, who holds strong views on migration issues, has also expressed support for and admiration of US President Donald Trump’s approach to the problem. He further confirmed that the EU is investigating the use of bloc funds for the construction of migrant camps in Greece; data and audit information had been requested and provided by the Greek side, but no further action is currently taking place.
Read also: Migration Commissioner: EU cannot rely solely on neighbours to secure borders