Greece and other European Union members are in talks with African countries with a view to setting up facilities there as early as next year to which migrants refused asylum would be deported, Migration Minister Thanos Plevris said Wednesday.
Plevris’ comments came after Parliament late Tuesday approved legislation ratifying new EU rules that allow the creation of so-called return hubs outside the 27-country bloc and faster deportation processes.
Lawmakers from the governing, conservative New Democracy party backed the bill, the main opposition PASOK Socialists voted “present” while left- and right-wing opposition parties voted against.
The new EU regulations approved last week also extend detention periods, introduce entry bans and fines for non-cooperation and allow authorities to collect biometric data.
Plevris said that Greece is working with Germany, Denmark, Austria and the Netherlands to create “return hubs” and discussions are being held with African and Asian countries that could potentially host them with a view to an agreement by the end of 2026. He told the state Athens-Macedonian News Agency that the Greek government “is already in negotiations with two African countries,” but provided no further detail.
