Greece, long a key entry point for refugees into Europe, has expressed interest in discussing with African nations the creation of so-called “migrant return hubs” for rejected asylum seekers, the country’s Migration Minister Thanos Plevris said on Wednesday.
Greece was at the centre of Europe’s migrant crisis in 2015-2016, when over a million people from the Middle East arrived on its shores. Although overall migrant flows have declined in recent years, the Aegean islands of Crete and Gavdos—the southernmost point of Europe, have recently seen a sharp increase in arrivals from North Africa.
Plevris told Greek public broadcaster ERT that he had discussed the initiative with Germany and that Athens had formally expressed interest in setting up migrant return hubs in safe African countries for asylum seekers who cannot be deported under EU law.
“The idea is to establish reception points in Africa to manage illegal migration and deter onward journeys to Europe,” Plevris said, adding that such centres could discourage migrants from attempting to reach Europe, citing as an example an Egyptian being sent to Uganda instead.
The Netherlands and Uganda have already agreed on a pilot scheme for returning rejected asylum seekers via Uganda, though it only applies to certain nationalities. Uganda has also signed an agreement with the U.S. to receive nationals from third countries who cannot secure asylum in America but are unwilling to return home.
Under Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Greece has tightened its migration policies, expanding the northern land border fence with Turkey and boosting maritime patrols since 2019. From July to October this year, Greece stopped processing asylum requests from North African arrivals by sea, prompting criticism from human rights groups.
