EU19 Countries Push for Offshore Migrant Return Centers

Nineteen European Union member states, including Slovakia, Greece, Denmark and Italy, signed a joint letter calling on the European Council to reach agreements with third‑country partners for the establishment of centres to process irregular migrants outside EU territory. The initiative, launched by Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, urges rapid implementation of the migration‑return framework approved by the European Parliament but still pending Council approval.

The letter highlights the need for concrete results and points to potential host locations in Africa and Central Asia, such as Rwanda, Ghana, Senegal, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Ethiopia, Uganda, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. Some governments estimate that operational centres could begin as early as 2026, aiming to curb illegal migration and reduce pressure on EU borders.