Nineteen European countries and Norway have called on the European Commission to begin the repatriation of Afghans residing illegally in Europe—either voluntarily or by force—according to a media report on Sunday.
Euronews reported that 20 European countries, in a joint letter addressed to Magnus Brunner, the EU Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, urged the Commission to identify mechanisms for returning Afghan nationals living illegally in Europe, whether through voluntary or compulsory means.
The initiative, led by Belgium’s Minister for Asylum and Migration, Anneleen Van Bossuyt, has been supported by 18 other EU member states and Norway.
The signatories include Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia and Sweden.
The letter calls on the European Commission to prioritise the return of Afghans and to engage with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) to establish a return policy.
Bossuyt also proposed that the EU Border Agency (Frontex) be given a greater role in organising and supporting voluntary returns through the EU Reintegration Programme.
Additionally, the letter suggests prioritising the forced return of individuals deemed dangerous or criminal.
These operations would be conducted through a joint mission in Afghanistan involving the European Commission, the EU External Action Service (EEAS), and participating member states.
Separately, Deutsche Welle (DW) quoted Germany’s Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt as saying that negotiations with the IEA regarding the return of Afghan nationals were at an advanced stage.
On 27 September, Germany’s interior minister announced that by the end of the year, an agreement would be reached with Syria on deporting “rejected and criminal” migrants and that the process of deporting migrants to Afghanistan would also continue.
kk/sa
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