🔸Germany, Austria, Greece, Denmark and the Netherlands announced that they are seeking to reach an agreement with countries outside the European Union to establish return centers for migrants without legal residence by the end of this calendar year.

🔸Ministers of the so-called “Five Group” said on Friday, at a meeting in Copenhagen, that they had reached an understanding on specific steps to achieve such an agreement, but they did not name the likely host countries for these centers.

🔸Alexander Dobrindt, Germany’s Interior Minister, said the aim is to finalize an agreement with third countries this year. The group is expected to meet again in Munich at the end of September.

🔸In June, the European Parliament adopted amendments to the EU’s immigration policy that would speed up the process of deporting migrants and make it possible to create return centers outside the EU.

🔸The Council of Europe and several human rights organizations have warned that such facilities could violate the fundamental rights of asylum seekers. Denmark’s Refugee Council also said that this plan will not prevent migrants from using more dangerous routes.