Five European countries are discussing the establishment of deportation centers for migrants outside the European Union

Austria, Denmark, Germany, Greece and the Netherlands will discuss on Friday, September 4, in Copenhagen, the establishment of return centers for migrants in countries outside the European Union. The meeting aims to establish concrete steps toward concluding an agreement with a possible partner country.

The governments involved have already begun discussions with several third countries, but their names have not been made public for reasons of confidentiality. The meeting is hosted by Danish Minister for Immigration and Integration Morten Bodskov, while the European Commission is participating as an observer.

The centers would accommodate migrants who are required to leave a member state but cannot be returned to their countries of origin, including when the authorities of those countries refuse to receive them.

Germany has supported the project for some time. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt recently said that concrete agreements with countries outside the EU could be concluded as early as this year.

The plan has been under discussion for several years and remains controversial. Amnesty International warns of possible violations of migrants' rights and calls for agreements with politically unstable or conflict-affected countries to be avoided.