ATHENS, Greece — Greece is working with four other European countries to set up deportation centers in third countries, most likely in Africa, for migrants whose asylum applications are rejected, Greece’s migration minister said Wednesday. He didn’t specify which countries were being considered to host the return hubs, and said the choice of the African continent was “not binding.” It was the larger European countries that were speaking directly with the countries where the return hubs could be located, “but we are participating too,” he added. The use of return hubs would be for people whose asylum applications are rejected and whose countries of origin will not take them back, the minister explained. He said their existence would act as a deterrent to prospective migrants who are unlikely to be granted asylum. Plevris said the government was now focusing on returns of those whose asylum applications are rejected.

Source: The North Africa Journal February 19, 2026 01:37 UTC