Greece, along with several European nations including Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Austria, is planning to create a return center in Africa for migrants who have been rejected for asylum and whose home countries refuse to accept them back. The proposal is still in the works, but discussions have reportedly started with Kenya as a potential host for this center. The collaboration aims to address the complications surrounding the return of migrants across Europe.

Greek Migration and Asylum Minister Thanos Plevris has met with his counterparts from the participating countries and indicated that a technical meeting is scheduled for next week to further develop the plan. The details of this initiative are expected to be presented at a Council of the EU meeting on migration in Brussels at the beginning of March. Plevris has acknowledged that the issue of returning migrants is a widespread challenge in Europe and emphasized that such centers could serve as a deterrent against illegal migration.

By establishing these centers, the involved countries aim to facilitate the safe and regulated return of migrants, while also potentially minimizing the influx of new migrants attempting to enter Europe illegally. The strategic decision to involve African nations in addressing European migration issues underscores a new approach to managing migration flows and reinforces the need for cooperation between countries of origin, transit, and destination in the ongoing migration crisis.