Denmark Pushes for EU Migrant Return Centers Abroad

Denmark expects the European Union to establish migrant return centers outside the bloc as early as 2027, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has said.

Frederiksen, a long-time supporter of offshore return centers, said discussions are underway to secure funding from the European Commission for facilities in non-EU countries.

She said a coalition of willing European states, backed by the Commission, could launch the first center outside Europe within the next year. The facilities would be intended for migrants ordered to leave the EU, with the potential to also process asylum seekers.

The proposal reflects a broader shift toward tougher migration policies across Europe amid growing support for right-wing parties. 

Frederiksen argued that migration pressures disproportionately affect lower-income communities and insisted that any future centers must comply with international law and European human rights standards.

Critics, including some fellow social democrats, have questioned whether EU-level legal and human rights protections can be effectively guaranteed in facilities located outside the bloc.