Rwanda has been mentioned among countries being considered in European Union (EU) discussions on establishing centres outside Europe for processing rejected asylum seekers, according to a report by Politico.
The June 24, 2026 report says several EU member states support a new framework that would allow “return hubs” to be set up in third countries to host individuals whose asylum applications have been denied in Europe.
EU diplomats cited in the report indicate that Rwanda and Uzbekistan are among the countries under consideration, with Uganda also mentioned in early discussions. Egypt and Libya were reportedly dropped from the list due to concerns related to migration dynamics and proximity to Europe.
The proposal follows the EU’s approval of new rules allowing member states to establish external return centres, provided they comply with international human rights standards.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, a key advocate of the plan, has said the aim is to secure initial agreements in 2026, with the centres expected to become operational by 2027.
The report also notes that the EU has deepened cooperation with Rwanda in recent years, including a €900 million investment announced in 2023 under the Global Gateway initiative. The funding is part of broader development cooperation and is not linked to migration processing arrangements.
Uzbekistan has reportedly received €119 million in EU support under similar cooperation frameworks.
Supporters of the initiative argue it could help reduce irregular migration to Europe and improve return procedures. Critics, however, warn of potential human rights concerns and legal uncertainty surrounding offshore processing arrangements.
UNHCR’s representative in Brussels, Jean-Nicolas Beuze, cautioned that external processing could expose asylum seekers to risk, while French President Emmanuel Macron has expressed doubts about the effectiveness of such schemes.
Rwanda has previously cooperated with international partners on refugee support programmes, including evacuation initiatives from Libya implemented with UNHCR and the African Union.
