Greece Joins German Initiative for African Migrant Return Hubs

The government of Greece has officially expressed interest in joining a German-led initiative to establish migrant return hubs in Africa. Migration Minister Thanos Plevris announced the plan to deport rejected asylum seekers to facilities located outside the European continent, arguing that such centers would serve as a stronger deterrent than domestic options. Plevris proposed two types of facilities: secure EU-controlled centers in safe African countries and holding centers in nations characterized as not safe, such as Libya.

Negotiations between Greek and German ministers began with a meeting on November 4 to identify shared interests in these innovative solutions. The initiative is being led by a coalition of individual European Union member states rather than the EU bloc. This strategy mirrors existing arrangements, such as the cooperation agreement between the Netherlands and Uganda.

This move follows a surge in arrivals from North Africa to the islands of Crete and Gavdos. Under Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Greece has tightened border security and suspended asylum processing for North African arrivals between July and October. Despite these measures, Plevris reported that migratory arrivals to Greece declined nearly 50% between August and mid-November compared to 2024, attributing the drop to diplomatic outreach in Libya and improved cooperation with Turkey.