Brussels( The COW News Digital) Twenty European countries have jointly urged the European Commission to take immediate steps to deport Afghan nationals residing illegally in Europe, stressing that their continued presence poses security risks and undermines public confidence in migration policies.
According to international media reports, Belgium’s Minister for Asylum and Migration, Nicole de Moor (also reported as Annelies Van den Bossche in local sources), revealed that 20 EU member states have written a joint letter to the European Commission demanding action for the “swift return” of Afghans without legal residency status.
The letter emphasized that the process of returning Afghan nationals could take place “either voluntarily or through enforced deportation,” and even suggested that the EU could open negotiations with the Taliban to facilitate the repatriation process.
The signatory countries include Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Sweden, and Norway. These nations stated that since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, no formal repatriation agreement has been in place with Afghanistan, which has made deportations legally and diplomatically challenging.
As a result, even Afghans convicted of crimes or considered security threats have been allowed to remain in European territories. The governments behind the letter warned that this situation endangers national security and erodes public trust in Europe’s asylum and immigration systems.
The joint appeal urges the European Commission to make the repatriation of Afghan migrants a “top policy priority” on its agenda. The letter proposes that the EU coordinate with the European External Action Service (EEAS) and partner countries to initiate a collective diplomatic mission to Afghanistan, specifically aimed at arranging the return of those identified as illegal residents.
The countries also highlighted the need to prioritize the deportation of individuals considered “criminals or dangerous” to maintain domestic security. They stressed that managing migration effectively is essential to preserving public support for the EU’s humanitarian and asylum commitments.
This move comes amid growing pressure on European governments as the number of undocumented migrants rises across the continent, with several EU states tightening border controls and calling for stronger collective action to address what they describe as a “growing migration crisis.”
