In a significant move that underscores growing political pressure over migration, a coalition of twenty European countries is demanding the European Commission urgently find ways to repatriate Afghan nationals, including through forced removals and direct negotiations with the Taliban.
The initiative, revealed in a letter to EU Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner, argues that the current inability to return Afghans—even those convicted of crimes—poses a security threat and erodes public confidence in the asylum system.
A Coalition Driven by Security and Policy Concerns
The push is led by Belgium’s Minister for Asylum and Migration, Anneleen Van Bossuyt, and is supported by a broad alliance of 19 EU member states and Norway. The signatories represent a wide political and geographical spread across the continent, including Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, and Sweden.
The core of their argument hinges on the security vacuum created after the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, which led to the collapse of a formal EU-Afghanistan return agreement. Since then, deportations to the country have largely ground to a halt.
“The fact that we cannot currently deport Afghans, even those convicted of crimes… poses a threat to EU countries’ security and undermines public trust in asylum policy,” the coalition contends, echoing a sentiment that has become a rallying cry for conservative and right-leaning parties across Europe.
Proposed Measures: Voluntary and Forced Returns
The letter outlines a two-pronged approach:
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Voluntary Returns: The countries propose a stronger role for the EU’s border agency, Frontex, in organizing and supporting voluntary returns. This would be managed through the EU Reintegration Programme, which provides logistical and financial assistance for migrants choosing to go back to their home countries.
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Forced Returns: For those deemed dangerous or who have had their asylum claims definitively rejected, the coalition demands a more assertive forced-removal strategy. This includes prioritizing individuals with criminal records and launching a joint mission involving the European Commission, the European External Action Service (EEAS), and willing member states to facilitate deportations directly to Afghanistan.
Crucially, both strategies would require the European Commission to engage in negotiations with the Taliban de facto authorities to establish a functioning readmission agreement.
Germany’s Precedent and International Condemnation
This European push comes as Germany, which hosts the second-largest population of Afghan asylum seekers in the EU, has already taken unilateral steps. In July, the government of Chancellor Olaf Scholz, under pressure from its conservative opposition, deported 81 Afghans via a charter flight. Friedrich Merz, leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), has been a vocal proponent of such measures and has urged other European nations to follow suit.
However, these actions have drawn sharp criticism from international human rights organizations. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) maintains a “non-return advisory” for Afghanistan, citing the dire and volatile security situation.
“We have been documenting continuing human rights violations in Afghanistan,” stated Arafat Jamal, a coordinator for the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR). A UNHCR spokesperson, Ravina Shamdasani, has previously reiterated that the country is not safe for returns, pointing to widespread reports of persecution, particularly of women, girls, former government officials, and security forces.
The ethical and legal dilemma is stark: no country formally recognizes the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan, with Russia being the sole exception. Engaging in high-level negotiations for a deportation deal would grant the regime a level of international legitimacy it has so far been denied, while potentially returning individuals to a well-documented humanitarian and human rights crisis.
The European Commission now faces a difficult balancing act: addressing the legitimate security and policy concerns of a majority of its member states while upholding its stated commitment to human rights and international law.
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