# EU Ministers Discuss New Return Hubs Strategy

October 1, 2026 at 08:44 AM

> EU Interior Ministers meet in Luxembourg to discuss establishing return centers in partner countries for individuals without residency.

EU Interior Ministers met in [Luxembourg](<https://austriareport.com/entity/luxembourg-city-q1842>) on Thursday to discuss simplifying return procedures for individuals without a right of residence. [Austria](<https://austriareport.com/entity/austria-q40>) and several other states are advocating for Return Hubs located in partner countries outside the [European Union](<https://austriareport.com/entity/european-union-q458>).

The **Group of Implementers**, including Austria, Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Greece, aims to select a partner country by year-end. A new EU Return Directive is being developed to provide a legal basis for establishing these centers in third countries.

Austrian Interior Minister [Gerhard Karner](<https://austriareport.com/entity/gerhard-karner-q1511874>) highlighted recent border measures, including technical upgrades at the Bulgarian-Turkish border. Discussions also focused on legal options for rejections at external borders to manage mass arrivals and hybrid threats.


[#EuropeanUnion](<https://austriareport.com/hashtag/EuropeanUnion>) [#MigrationPolicy](<https://austriareport.com/hashtag/MigrationPolicy>) #ReturnHubs [#GerhardKarner](<https://austriareport.com/hashtag/GerhardKarner>) #BorderSecurity

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