Full Breakdown
Greece Proposes Direct Deportations of Rejected Asylum Seekers to Third Countries
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Proposal
Greek Migration Minister Notis Plevris announced that the government intends to send individuals whose asylum applications have been rejected out of the European Union without establishing dedicated return facilities. According to Plevris, rejected applicants would be returned either to their country of origin or to a third country outside the EU, with the responsibility for the transfers remaining with the five Core Group nations.
Target Destination Countries
EU diplomats familiar with the discussions indicated that Rwanda is the first country being negotiated for such returns. Additional countries under consideration include Uganda and Uzbekistan, which are said to already host sizable migrant populations and possess camps capable of accommodating new arrivals. The ministers of the Core Group have reportedly expressed openness to a range of frameworks, from camp-based solutions to broader integration programs, depending on the preferences of the receiving states.
Implementation Framework
Plevris stressed that the plan does not involve “closed facilities” in third countries. Instead, the Greek government seeks to work with international organizations to set up monitoring mechanisms intended to safeguard human-rights standards in the destination nations. While the exact monitoring arrangements remain unsettled, the minister indicated that the expertise and presence of these organizations will be incorporated, though ultimate authority will stay with the five Core Group countries.
International Context and Reactions
The proposal follows earlier offshore migration schemes, notably the United Kingdom’s 2022 agreement with Rwanda that was later abandoned after extensive legal challenges. Two EU diplomats, speaking anonymously, noted that the timetable outlined by Greece appears ambitious because several key elements of the agreements—such as monitoring protocols and legal safeguards—are still unresolved. No formal objections or support from other EU member states were reported in the available sources.