Greece is planning discussions with African countries to establish “migrant return hubs” for hosting rejected asylum seekers, Migration Minister Thanos Plevris said on Wednesday. This move aligns Greece with similar initiatives already underway in other European Union nations.
Once a main entry point for migrants during the 2015–2016 crisis, Greece has seen arrivals decline in recent years. However, the Aegean islands of Crete and Gavdos — the closest to the African coast — have recently experienced an increase in migrants coming from North Africa.
Plevris told Greek public broadcaster ERT that the Greek government has already discussed the proposal with Germany and formally expressed interest in participating. “There is already a discussion with some safe African countries for the reception of illegal migrants that we (as EU member states) cannot deport,” he said. German officials were not immediately available for comment, as reported by Reuters.
The idea is similar to programs in other EU countries. In September 2025, the Netherlands reached an agreement with Uganda to use the East African nation as a transit point for returning rejected asylum seekers, although this only applies to nationals from countries near Uganda. Uganda has also agreed to take in certain third-country nationals who do not qualify for asylum in the United States but refuse to return home.
Plevris said hosting return centers outside Europe could act as a deterrent for irregular migration. “Imagine sending an Egyptian who embarks for Europe to Uganda instead,” he explained.
Under Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Greece has adopted a tougher stance on migration, including expanding a border fence with Turkey and strengthening sea patrols since 2019. This year, in an effort to reduce arrivals to Crete and Gavdos, Greece temporarily suspended processing asylum applications for people reaching these islands by sea from North Africa between July and October — a policy criticized by human rights groups.