Doha: Germany, Austria, Greece, Denmark, and the Netherlands, collectively known as the "Group of Five," revealed Friday their efforts to sign agreements this year to send migrants without legal residence rights to countries outside the European Union. During their meeting in Copenhagen, the interior ministers of the five nations agreed on concrete steps toward concluding an agreement with non-EU countries to establish return hubs.

According to Qatar News Agency, German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt stated that they want to reach an agreement with third countries this year that enables the establishment of return centers. He noted that the group, which has held a series of meetings this year, intends to meet again in Munich at the end of September to further discuss the scheme.

Charlotte Slente, Secretary General of the Danish Refugee Council, emphasized that it would be better to implement the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum. She noted that the pact focuses on tightening border screening, accelerating asylum and return procedures, and expanding digital systems for managing asylum applications. Slente explained that return centers apply to a limited number of cases, will not prevent people from taking more dangerous routes, and may violate fundamental human rights.

Meanwhile, Danish Minister for Immigration and Integration Morten Bodskov stated that his country expects to be ready to send migrants to a return hub by the end of 2027. He said the five countries will consult on the next steps with the UN's International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Last June, the European Parliament approved a comprehensive reform of migration policy aimed at accelerating deportations and allowing member states to establish centers outside the bloc, a move critics argue could weaken safeguards granted to asylum seekers. Following that, in July, the Council of Europe, a non-EU body that promotes human rights, democracy, and the rule of law across the continent, expressed concerns over the move, stating that return hubs carry significant risks to human rights.

The plan was also criticized by several other parties, including the European Commission, which stated it had not received any details regarding the proposal and therefore could not comment on the arrangements under discussion.