German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt is seeking EU backing for “return hubs” near countries of origin to process rejected asylum seekers, ahead of a key meeting of European interior ministers.

German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has called for the establishment of “return hubs” to manage rejected asylum seekers who cannot be sent back directly to their home countries, urging the European Union to provide the legal framework for such centres.

Speaking to the Münchner Merkur newspaper in comments published on Thursday, Dobrindt said he hopes the proposal will gain momentum during the meeting of European interior ministers scheduled for Oct. 4.

The hubs, he said, should be located as close as possible to the migrants’ countries of origin. While he expects EU backing, he acknowledged that member states may ultimately need to take the lead. “We want the EU to provide the legal framework for such centres. At the same time, we know we cannot rely on the EU to build these return hubs. Where exactly, we have not yet agreed,” he stated.

The Munich meeting on Saturday is expected to bring together multiple European interior ministers as well as EU Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner. A similar gathering was held in July on Germany’s Zugspitze Mountain.

Dobrindt stressed that Germany remains open to migrants who contribute positively to society. “Those who integrate and work have a chance to stay in Germany. For all others, we want to enforce the obligation to leave,” he said.

CBI News reports the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees revealed that 78,246 people applied for protection in Germany for the first time between January and August—around half the number recorded during the same period last year.