Anneleen
Van Bossuyt

On 22 January, the Minister for Asylum and Migration, Anneleen Van Bossuyt, will participate in the informal Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) Council in Cyprus. The return of Afghans and Syrians to their respective countries of origin is at the top of the agenda. Both forced return for criminals and voluntary return will be discussed.

The call by Belgian Minister for Asylum and Migration Anneleen Van Bossuyt for a coordinated European approach to the return of irregular and criminal Afghan nationals has broad support across Europe, Eurativ resports. 20 Member States have now signed a joint letter to European Commissioner for Migration and Home Affairs Magnus Brunner, urging the European Commission to take concrete steps to enable both voluntary and forced returns of Afghan nationals who have no legal right to stay in the EU and, in particular, those posing a threat to public order.