Kathmandu— Five European nations—Germany, Austria, Greece, Denmark, and the Netherlands—have moved closer to finalizing a deal with an unspecified non-EU country to establish migrant return hubs by 2027, according to senior officials, as part of efforts to accelerate deportations and reduce immigration pressures, with the Group of Five set to reconvene in September to advance the plan amid growing criticism over human rights concerns.

Group of Five Negotiations Underway

Senior officials from Germany, Austria, Greece, Denmark, and the Netherlands confirmed that the nations have agreed on concrete steps toward a deal with a non-EU country to host migrant return facilities, aiming to sign agreements this year to send migrants without legal residency to countries outside the EU.

Danish Immigration and Integration Minister Morten Bodskov stated at a Copenhagen news conference that the group expects to reach a common understanding with a partner country outside the EU "around New Year," emphasizing that the initiative would provide migrants with "a new chance to have a life in a partner country."

The nations have not disclosed the location of the proposed centers or identified the non-EU country that might host them, though they plan to consult with the International Organization for Migration and the UN Refugee Agency on next steps.

The Group of Five is scheduled to reconvene in Munich at the end of September to further develop the plan, while the European Parliament’s recent migration policy overhaul and human rights concerns raised by the Council of Europe continue to shape the debate.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.