Greece plans to engage in talks with African nations on establishing “migrant return hubs” to host rejected asylum seekers, Migration Minister Thanos Plevris said on Wednesday, signaling a shift that aligns Athens with similar initiatives pursued by other EU members.

The country, once the primary gateway to Europe during the 2015–2016 migrant crisis, has seen overall arrivals decline in recent years. But two Aegean islands closest to the African coast — Crete and Europe’s southernmost island, Gavdos — have recorded a sharp rise in migrants departing from North Africa.

Plevris told public broadcaster ERT that Greece had already discussed the proposal with Germany and formally expressed its interest in participating. “There is already a discussion with some safe African countries for the reception of illegal migrants that we (as EU member states) cannot deport,” he said. German officials were not immediately available for comment, as reported in Reuters.

The concept mirrors initiatives elsewhere in Europe. In September, the Netherlands announced an agreement with Uganda to use the East African nation as a transit point for returning rejected asylum seekers, although the scheme applies only to nationals from countries near Uganda. Uganda has also agreed to receive certain third-country nationals who do not qualify for asylum in the United States but refuse to return home.

Plevris argued that hosting return centers outside Europe could act as a strong deterrent. “Imagine sending an Egyptian who embarks for Europe to Uganda instead,” he said.

Under Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Greece has adopted a tougher migration stance, expanding a border fence with Turkey and intensifying sea patrols since 2019. This year, in an effort to curb arrivals to Crete and Gavdos, Greece suspended the processing of asylum applications for people reaching the islands by sea from North Africa between July and October — a move criticized by human rights groups.