EU countries call for joint action on the return of Afghan nationals
On 16 October 2025, twenty EU Member States signed a joint letter urging the European Commission to take coordinated steps to enable voluntary and forced return to Afghanistan. The initiative, led by Belgian Minister for Asylum and Migration Anneleen Van Bossuyt, calls for a coherent European approach to address cases of Afghan nationals residing irregularly in the EU, particularly those posing a threat to public order or national security. The signatories stress that credible migration policies require effective return mechanisms and call for tangible progress by the end of the year.
In recent years, the EU has faced persistent challenges in returning Afghan nationals who have no legal right to remain. While 22.870 Afghans were issued a return decision in 2024, only 435 returned to their country of origin, resulting in a return rate of just 2%. Member States underline that this situation undermines confidence in migration and asylum systems and creates security concerns. Belgium, where 2.815 Afghans are currently accommodated in reception centres, has reported an increase in serious incidents, which authorities link to the lack of effective return options.
The joint letter, addressed to Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner and copied to High Representative Kaja Kallas, urges the Commission to strengthen EU coordination on voluntary and forced return. It proposes a greater role for Frontex in return and reintegration efforts, a more centralised funding mechanism to avoid fragmentation, and closer cooperation between the Commission, the European External Action Service and Member States willing to act jointly, including through a potential administrative mission to Afghanistan. The Ministers emphasise that priority should be given to returning individuals posing a threat to public order or national security.
The initiative takes place against the backdrop of continued concerns expressed by human rights organisations regarding returns to Afghanistan. In a statement published in October 2025, Amnesty International warned that any forced return to Afghanistan could breach the principle of non-refoulement, given the ongoing deterioration of the human rights situation under Taliban rule. The organisation urged the EU to ensure that all return decisions are based on individual risk assessments and that engagement with Afghanistan prioritises protection and humanitarian needs over enforcement measures.
For more details, please read the joint letter below, along with the press release by Minister Anneleen Van Bossuyt (in Dutch) and the related article published by Euractiv.