EU States Urge Action to Deport Illegal Afghan Migrants and Convicted Offenders
Brussels: Twenty European nations, including 19 EU member states and Norway, have called on the European Commission to take coordinated action to expel Afghans residing illegally within their borders, particularly those convicted of criminal offences.
The demand was made in a joint letter addressed to EU Home Affairs and Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner, confirming the growing pressure across Europe to address irregular migration from Afghanistan. Belgium’s Migration Minister, Anneleen Van Bossuyt, who spearheaded the initiative, confirmed the letter’s submission on Friday.
Broad Coalition Behind the Move
The signatories include Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Sweden, and Norway.
The letter highlights that, since the Taliban takeover in 2021, the EU has had no formal repatriation agreement with Afghanistan — leaving even convicted offenders unable to be deported. This, it argues, undermines public trust in the EU’s asylum system and poses security risks across member states.
Call for Negotiations with the Taliban
The letter urges the European Commission to engage directly with the Taliban authorities to establish a framework for returning both illegal residents and criminal offenders. It calls for repatriation policy talks to be placed at the top of the Commission’s migration agenda.
Van Bossuyt emphasised that the EU border agency, Frontex, should play a central role in organising voluntary returns and assisting deportations. She also stressed that priority must be given to high-risk individuals during forced returns, recommending a joint mission involving the European Commission, the European External Action Service (EEAS), and member states.
Mixed Reactions Across Europe and Beyond
Currently, Russia is the only country to formally recognise the Taliban government. Meanwhile, Germany’s conservative-led administration under Friedrich Merz recently resumed deportations, sending 81 Afghans back in July after striking a limited arrangement with Taliban officials.
However, the United Nations has criticised Germany’s move, warning that Afghanistan remains unsafe for returnees. UN human rights spokesperson Raveena Shamdasani reiterated that the country is still under a non-return advisory, citing ongoing instability and human rights concerns.
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