Five EU countries move towards first ‘return hub’ for rejected asylum seekers

File photo: Migrants queue to enter a refectory in Milan, Italy (Picture credit: AP) Five European Union countries have agreed on concrete steps towards establishing a “return hub” in a non-EU country for migrants who do not have legal residency, as European governments seek to speed up the return of people whose asylum applications have been rejected.Germany, Austria, Greece, Denmark and the Netherlands announced the agreement on Friday after a meeting hosted by Denmark in Copenhagen. The countries said they aim to reach an agreement with a partner country this year, although they did not identify the country being considered.“We want to reach an agreement with third countries this year that will enable the establishment of return hubs,” German interior minister Alexander Dobrindt told reporters in Copenhagen.Danish Immigration and Integration Minister Morten Bodskov said Denmark expected to be ready to send migrants to a return hub by the end of 2027.Greece's migration and asylum minister Thanos Plevris said the goal was to have a hub operational outside the EU by 2027.EU migration rules pave way for centres outside EuropeThe initiative follows changes to EU migration policy. The...