6
February
2025

Planned return hubs in third countries: EU fundamental rights law issues

This FRA Position Paper outlines the Agency’s position on the creation of 'return hubs' in non-EU countries for migrants who have been ordered to leave the EU. Considering the serious fundamental rights risks connected with running return hubs, this legal analysis presents the conditions that would have to be met for return hubs to respect fundamental rights and comply with EU law. These include setting up agreements with the host countries and creating independent human rights monitoring mechanisms. The position paper does not examine centres in third countries that process asylum applications.

About this publication

© European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, 2025

Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged.

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Neither the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights nor any person acting on behalf of the Agency is responsible for the use that might be made of the following information.

Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2025

Recommended citation: FRA (2025), Planned return hubs in third countries – EU fundamental rights law issues, FRA Position Paper, Vienna.

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  • TK-01-25-005-EN-Q
  • ISBN: 978-92-9489-568-4
  • DOI: 10.2811/9073933

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