Egypt Rejects European Proposal for Refugee Return Hubs

21 September 2026

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CAIRO _ Egypt has rejected proposals to establish refugee or migrant reception facilities on its territory as European countries consider using non-EU countries for so-called “return hubs.”

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty rejected the idea during a meeting with European diplomats in Cairo on 10 September, saying Egypt would not consider hosting such facilities and was already carrying a significant refugee and asylum-seeker burden. The issue comes as the European Union moves toward a new system for returning people who have no legal right to remain in EU countries. The European Parliament's 2026 position allows EU member states to establish arrangements with non-EU countries for the transfer of people who have received final return decisions, subject to human rights protections and the principle of non-refoulement.

These facilities are generally referred to as “return hubs.” They are intended for people facing return from the EU, rather than being general refugee camps. The European Parliamentary Research Service says such hubs could be established in third countries through agreements with countries considered safe and compliant with international human rights standards. Egypt's position comes as several European countries explore arrangements involving third countries. European Parliament research has identified Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Austria and Denmark among countries working on or considering return-hub arrangements outside the EU.

Egypt already hosts a large population of refugees and asylum-seekers from across the region. The Egyptian government says more than 10 million refugees and asylum-seekers are currently in the country, although the number registered with the UN refugee agency is considerably lower. The country has repeatedly called on the international community to share the responsibility of hosting refugees. Egyptian officials have also argued that migration cannot be addressed only through border controls and returns, and that conflicts and economic conditions driving displacement need to be addressed.

The EU's new return framework has raised questions about how people transferred to third countries would be protected. European Parliament documents state that agreements with third countries must respect international human rights standards and the principle of non-refoulement. The framework also provides safeguards for certain groups, including unaccompanied minors.

For Egypt, the proposal adds another point of tension to an already complex relationship with Europe over migration, regional security and economic cooperation. Egypt's rejection leaves open the question of where European governments could establish return hubs and under what conditions those arrangements would operate.

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