Five European Countries Push Plan for 'Return Hubs' Outside EU for Rejected Asylum Seekers

Five European countries—Germany, Austria, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Greece—are advancing a proposal to establish "return hubs" outside the European Union to accommodate rejected asylum seekers, including Bangladeshis, before they are repatriated to their countries of origin.

The initiative is based on the European Commission's proposed Return Regulation, which would allow EU member states, under certain conditions, to transfer individuals whose asylum applications have been finally rejected to designated third countries while their return is being arranged.

According to European diplomatic sources and international media reports, preliminary discussions have been held with several potential host countries, including Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, Rwanda, Benin, Mauritania, and Uzbekistan. However, no formal agreements have been signed.

Greece has recently taken a leading role in promoting the proposal. Greek migration officials indicated that agreements with one or more third countries could be reached later this year, with the system potentially becoming operational next year.

Under the proposed framework, asylum seekers whose claims are definitively rejected and who cannot be immediately returned to their home countries would be transferred to a return hub outside the EU. They would remain there temporarily until repatriation arrangements are completed in coordination with their countries of origin.

Officials from Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the government has not yet received any formal communication regarding the initiative, noting that the proposal remains under discussion within the European Parliament and has not been finalized. They added that the plan is not aimed specifically at Bangladesh but would apply to nationals of any country whose asylum claims are rejected.

Bangladesh is expected to be significantly affected if the policy is implemented. According to the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) in its Latest Asylum Trends 2025 report, Bangladesh ranked as the fourth-largest country of origin for asylum applicants in the EU in 2025, after Syria, Venezuela, and Afghanistan.

The report shows that Bangladeshi nationals submitted 36,901 asylum applications in 2025, including 35,245 first-time applications. During the same period, EU member states issued first-instance decisions on 43,523 Bangladeshi cases, while 41,692 applications remained pending at the end of the year. The first-instance recognition rate for Bangladeshi applicants stood at just 3 percent.

Bangladeshi officials also noted that the proposed Return Regulation aims to accelerate asylum procedures, with new applications expected to be processed within approximately 12 weeks. Rejected applicants could then face faster removal procedures than under the current system.

Supporters of the initiative argue that the EU's current return system is ineffective, as fewer than one-third of migrants ordered to leave the bloc are ultimately returned to their home countries. They believe return hubs would improve the efficiency of deportation procedures and reduce pressure on Europe's asylum system.

The proposal, however, has drawn criticism from human rights organizations and legal experts. The Council of Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights has urged participating governments to fully comply with international refugee law, the European Convention on Human Rights, and the principle of non-refoulement. Rights groups have warned that transferring asylum seekers to third countries could weaken access to legal protection, judicial remedies, and international safeguards.

Professor Tasneem Siddiqui, founding chair of the Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU), described the proposal as potentially inconsistent with international human rights standards. She cautioned that experiences with offshore processing systems elsewhere have shown that asylum seekers can face prolonged uncertainty and limited access to legal assistance, mental health services, and effective judicial protection.

Bangladesh's State Minister for Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, Md. Nurul Haque, said the government has not received any official notification regarding the proposed return hubs. He reiterated the government's position in discouraging irregular migration and urged Bangladeshi citizens to use legal migration channels rather than seeking asylum abroad without valid grounds.