Overview

• A joint letter to European Commissioner Magnus Brunner urges prioritising the return of Afghans without legal status, proposing both voluntary and forced removals if needed.
• The appeal calls for a stronger Frontex role, use of the EU Reintegration Programme, joint Commission–EEAS missions to Kabul, and priority returns for those deemed dangerous or criminal.
• Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Slovakia and Sweden signed the letter.
• The letter cites EU figures showing 22,870 deportation orders for Afghans last year but only 435 returns, and UNHCR maintains a non-return advisory and has criticised recent deportation flights.
• Germany has already carried out deportation flights and says talks with Kabul are advanced, while one Commission spokesperson was quoted as saying technical-level contacts with Afghan authorities began earlier this year.