BRUSSELS: Twenty European nations are urging the European Commission to restart the repatriation of Afghan nationals living illegally in Europe, whether voluntarily or through forced deportations.
In a joint letter addressed to European Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner, the countries called for immediate action to establish mechanisms for returning Afghans who do not have legal residency. The appeal was made public on Saturday by Belgium’s Minister for Asylum and Migration, Anneleen Van Bossuyt.
According to Van Bossuyt, the inability to deport Afghans, including those convicted of crimes, since the Taliban seized power in 2021 has created growing security concerns across the EU and is eroding public trust in the bloc’s asylum system.
The initiative, spearheaded by Belgium, is backed by 18 other EU member states and Norway — including Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, and Sweden.
The group is urging the European Commission to make the repatriation of Afghan nationals a top priority, even if that requires direct negotiations with the Taliban government in Kabul to formalize a return agreement.
Van Bossuyt has also proposed expanding the role of the EU border agency Frontex to better coordinate voluntary returns through the EU Reintegration Programme. For forced deportations, the letter recommends prioritizing individuals considered dangerous or criminal, potentially through a coordinated mission to Afghanistan involving the Commission, the European External Action Service (EEAS), and participating member states.
