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5 EU countries aim to send rejected migrants to 'return hubs' by 2027

(ANSA-AFP) - COPENHAGEN, 04 SET - Five European Union countries are seeking a deal with an unnamed non-EU country to host a "return hub" for migrants whose asylum applications have been rejected, with a targeted start date of January 1, a Danish minister said Friday. Denmark, Greece, Austria, Germany, and the Netherlands agreed to the initiative as Copenhagen hosted talks on the creation of migrant detention centres outside Europe. "Around New Year, we expect to have a common understanding with a partner country outside of the European Union," said Danish Migrations Minister Morten Bodskov. The partner country or countries have not been disclosed, but Uganda and Rwanda in particular are seen as possibilities. Upon arriving at the meeting, Greek Migration and Asylum Minister Thanos Plevris said the goal was to have "the return hub operational in a country outside the European Union by 2027." Earlier Friday, Denmark said it was ready to send rejected asylum seekers to such hubs by the end of 2027, not the start. (ANSA-AFP).