Five EU countries push migrant return hubs outside Europe: these African and Asian nations are among the options

Denmark says it expects to be ready by the end of 2027 to start sending rejected asylum seekers to a return centre outside the European Union. Now, together with the Netherlands, Germany, Austria and Greece, it wants to secure agreements with third countries before the end of this year. But despite a renewed political push, Europe has tried similar ideas before, often with little to show for them.