Sweden's migration minister has made a significant intervention, urging the European Union to establish a unified procedure for issuing identification and travel documents to Afghan nationals whose asylum applications have been rejected or who have committed crimes in their host countries. This call comes amid growing concerns across the bloc about the practical difficulties of deporting individuals to Afghanistan.
The Deportation Dilemma
Minister Johan Forssell has highlighted what he describes as a "more or less impossible" situation regarding the deportation of Afghan nationals who do not meet asylum criteria. The core problem, according to Forssell, is that these individuals typically lack either proper identification or travel documents, creating a significant bureaucratic barrier to their removal from European countries.
Speaking on the sidelines of an informal meeting of EU Justice and Home Affairs ministers in Nicosia, Cyprus, Forssell told The Associated Press: "It is a major concern for us that we are seeing quite a few cases of people that have committed crimes, Afghan people that committed crimes in Sweden and it is more or less impossible to expel them today."
A Technical Solution to a Political Problem
Forssell acknowledged that there is no political will within the EU to establish formal arrangements with Afghanistan's Taliban regime that might offer them legitimacy. However, he suggested that the 27-member bloc could potentially agree on technical-level cooperation to issue Afghan nationals the necessary documentation to facilitate their deportation.
"If you come to Europe and you commit crimes, you have chosen yourself not to be part of our society. And we need to do everything we can to make sure that you are expelled," Forssell stated emphatically.
The Practical Challenges
The migration minister explained that Afghan nationals currently face substantial obstacles in obtaining passports or identification documents from their homeland. This difficulty arises because most Afghan embassies in Europe are not recognised by the country's Taliban rulers, creating a documentation vacuum that prevents effective deportations.
Forssell revealed that the European Commission has recently initiated contacts in Kabul regarding this issue, describing these preliminary discussions as a "very positive first step." He noted there appears to be "broad consensus" among many EU countries facing similar challenges that more must be done to expedite the deportation process for failed Afghan asylum seekers and those who have committed crimes.
Broader Implications for Asylum Policy
The Swedish official warned that public support for admitting genuine asylum seekers could diminish if systems are not established to remove those whose applications have been rejected. According to Forssell, more than half of Afghan asylum seekers will have their applications denied, and he stressed that "they need to go back home" to maintain the integrity of the asylum system.
Forssell also proposed a practical solution: grouping together Afghan nationals slated for deportation across different EU countries and repatriating them aboard chartered flights. This coordinated approach, he suggested, could make the process more efficient and cost-effective for member states.
EU-Wide Engagement
European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner confirmed that EU member states are engaging with Afghanistan's "effective authorities" at a technical level to better facilitate repatriations. This engagement represents a pragmatic approach to a complex diplomatic situation, focusing on practical outcomes rather than political recognition.
Forssell noted that the same principles apply to failed Syrian asylum seekers, though he emphasised that Afghan nationals currently represent the priority for action given the specific documentation challenges involved.
Sweden's Changing Migration Landscape
The Swedish minister contextualised his remarks within Sweden's evolving approach to migration. He observed that Sweden's traditionally generous welcome of asylum seekers has frayed over the last decade, with ordinary Swedes becoming increasingly alarmed by what he described as the many "problems" that mass migration has created in the country.
These concerns, according to Forssell, were a key factor in the formation of the current government three years ago, which came to power with support from the hard-right, anti-immigration Sweden Democrats party.
The minister pointed to what he sees as positive results from this policy shift, noting that asylum applications in Sweden are currently at their lowest level since 1985. "So I think we are doing very well and we are really delivering what the Swedish population wants to see from us," he concluded.
