Nineteen EU Nations Seek Funding for External Return Hubs

Nineteen European Union countries urged the European Commission on December 17, 2025, to provide funding for return hubs located outside the bloc. These centers would process individuals whose asylum claims have been denied. The request follows a December 8 agreement among EU interior ministers to implement a series of measures, including the creation of these hubs and the introduction of stricter penalties for migrants who refuse to depart European territory.

Government of Denmark, which currently holds the six-month EU presidency, is leading the initiative as part of a broader priority to address illegal immigration. Danish Immigration Minister Rasmus Stoklund stated that the work is not finished and expressed satisfaction that 19 countries now support the call for diplomatic and economic assistance to make these centers a reality.

The proposed measures currently await a vote from the European Parliament. Migrant rights activists have denounced the plan, asserting that the use of external return centers violates human rights and places migrants in danger.