EU Could Launch First Deportation Centers Outside Its Borders By Next Year

European countries could establish EU-funded deportation centers outside the bloc by next year, according to Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.

The initiative reflects a broader hardening of regional immigration policies driven by the political rise of far-right parties.

Work is underway to secure funding from the European Commission for these facilities based in non-EU countries, according to the Financial Times.

The plan envisions a coalition of willing member states operating with Brussels' support.

The first return hub outside Europe is projected to emerge in 2026-27. Proponents of the strategy expect the initial facilities to be functional within the next year.

Outsourcing Migration Management

The concept of outsourcing migration management to non-EU countries has transitioned from a political taboo into a mainstream policy goal.

The Danish government has been a primary driver of the strategy, having previously attempted to negotiate a bilateral asylum center with Rwanda in 2021.

Those initial plans were suspended amid political uproar and legal and human rights concerns. Copenhagen subsequently shifted its focus to advocating for collective, EU-funded external hubs.

The momentum has accelerated with 19 EU countries recently supporting offshore migration policies.

These policies are modeled on an Italian hub established in Albania in 2024, with member states demanding funding from the EU budget.

A top adviser to the European Court of Justice stated this month that the Albanian scheme could be compatible with EU law, provided EU human rights regulations apply to the individuals held there.

A final ruling from the court remains pending.

Commission Backing and Internal Opposition

A European Commission spokesperson confirmed that legislation is now in place to set up the hubs.

The next operational steps rest with the individual member states, and Brussels is ready to assess mature proposals.

However, the strategy faces internal resistance within the bloc, most notably from France.

President Emmanuel Macron stated he has not seen a return hub that works and opposes utilizing the EU budget for such schemes.

Macron questioned whether these external facilities align with the fundamental principles upon which Europe was built.

The hardline stance has also drawn criticism from social democratic factions who argue that human rights cannot be guaranteed outside the bloc.

Enforcement Conditions and Future Scope

The Danish prime minister insisted that human rights would be protected under international law, though specific enforcement mechanisms were not detailed.

She emphasized that the facilities would operate under European conditions.

A regulation supporting the creation of these return hubs passed through the European Parliament last week with the support of far-right lawmakers.

The centers are designed to host rejected asylum seekers who cannot be deported to their countries of origin.

Negotiations are ongoing with prospective host nations, though the specific non-EU countries involved have not been disclosed.

The planned scope may expand to handle both incoming asylum seekers and individuals ordered to leave the bloc.

The policy marks a fundamental transition from discussing internal border control to the concrete implementation of external processing hubs.

Proponents view this as the most significant structural change in European migration management.