Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen says the European Union could begin operating deportation centers outside the bloc as early as next year, as more governments push for tougher migration controls.

Frederiksen told the Financial Times that work is underway to secure European Commission funding for so-called return hubs in third countries. The centers would be used for migrants with a return decision, after their legal right to remain in the EU has been rejected.

The plan has gained support from several EU governments. Nineteen member states have backed the possibility of financing offshore return centers with European funds, drawing on a model used by Italy in Albania.

The European Parliament last week approved a new return regulation that allows member states to establish offshore detention centers and makes it easier to deport rejected asylum seekers and visa overstayers.

Frederiksen, a Social Democrat, has defended the policy as a practical response to irregular migration. She said several member states form a “coalition of the willing” working with the Commission on the proposal.

The plan still faces opposition. French President Emmanuel Macron has expressed doubts about using EU budget funds for such centers, and human-rights groups have warned that offshore facilities could weaken legal protections for migrants.

Denmark has pushed for tougher migration policies for several years. In 2021, a Danish proposal to transfer asylum seekers to Rwanda drew criticism from human-rights groups, left-wing parties and several European governments.

The debate has shifted as governments across Europe face continued pressure over migration and low deportation rates.