Government officials from Greece and another four European Union countries meeting in Denmark Friday drafted "specific and implementable" plans to deport rejected asylum-seekers to African or other non-EU countries, Migration Minister Thanos Plevris said.
Speaking after the talks in Copenhagen, Plevris said technical meetings and negotiations with countries that would potentially host the so-called "return hubs" are already under way.
"We are particularly optimistic that very soon we will be in a position to reach a mutually advantageous agreement that will set the model into effect," Plevris said.
The Copenhagen talks brought together the so-called "Core Group" of Denmark, Austria, Germany, The Netherlands and Greece, which are at the forefront of the deportation project.
Danish officials have said the system could be in place as early as next year.
