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Nineteen EU countries, including Cyprus, are openly backing plans to send rejected asylum seekers to return centers outside the European Union, even as migration is officially left off the agenda of this week’s European Council.
In a joint letter to the European Commission, the group of member states argues that Europe now has the political momentum to move forward with tougher migration controls, calling for the rapid rollout of what they describe as “innovative solutions,” a phrase widely understood to include migrant return hubs in third countries.
Migration pressure, despite silence at the summit
Although migration is not scheduled for formal discussion at Thursday’s EU leaders’ summit, the letter makes clear that several capitals want the issue front and center, especially countries on the EU’s external borders, such as Cyprus and Greece, which continue to face high numbers of irregular arrivals.
The letter, dated December 16 and signed by interior and migration ministers from 19 countries, calls on Brussels to accelerate the implementation of recently approved EU legislation on migrant returns, safe third countries, and the legal framework for setting up return centers outside the bloc.
Europe looks beyond its borders
At the core of the proposal is a push for deeper cooperation with non-EU countries, both countries of origin and transit, to curb irregular migration and speed up deportations.
European capitals are urging the Commission to move from theory to practice, arguing that without stronger external partnerships, EU migration policy will remain ineffective.
Funding the hard choices
The ministers are also pressing for a clear financial framework to support these measures, warning that return hubs and other external migration tools will not work without dedicated EU funding.
They are calling on the Commission to issue guidelines on how existing and future EU financial instruments can be used to pay for return hubs and related infrastructure while staying within EU budget rules.
“Effective use of financial resources is essential,” the letter stresses, adding that a coordinated funding strategy is needed to turn policy into action.
The Albania model and what comes next
While no specific examples are named, the model is already known. Italy has established two migrant centers in Albania, a non-EU country, though legal challenges have so far kept them from operating.
Under the EU’s newly adopted migration regulations, those centers are expected to become operational by mid-2026, a development closely watched by governments backing the return-hub approach.
Cyprus’ stance
For Cyprus, the letter reflects long-standing concerns over irregular migration and the limits of current EU policy. Officials argue that frontline states cannot manage the pressure alone and that Europe must take collective responsibility, even if that means processing returns far beyond EU borders.
Although migration may not dominate the European Council’s official agenda, the message from Cyprus and its allies is clear: the EU is moving toward tougher, more externalized migration controls, and the debate is only just beginning.
