The countries that signed the letter to the European Commissioner for Migration Magnus Brunner, including Germany, Belgium, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy and others, insist on receiving additional opportunities to deport with priority individuals “who threaten public order or national security”. The request concerns Afghan citizens who have not received a residence permit in the EU, notes the ARD.
Voluntary or forced return "with priority"
The letter also criticizes the fact that last year, out of all 22,870 Afghans who were supposed to be deported by the EU, only 435 people were returned to their home country.
The countries that signed the letter also insist that the topic of the voluntary or forced return of Afghan citizens to their homeland should now be considered a "common responsibility" at the EU level. Norway has also signed the letter, although it is not a member of the EU. However, the country is part of the Schengen area and cooperates with the European Asylum Agency.
Contacts with the Taliban are a contentious issue
Germany is negotiating with the Taliban government in Afghanistan to return their citizens. According to Interior Minister Alexander Dobrin, the negotiations are "seriously advanced". Contacts with the Taliban are a highly contentious issue because the German government does not maintain formal diplomatic relations with the radical Islamists who have ruled the country since 2021.