Belgium and other EU countries call for greater powers to deport criminal migrants
Prime minister Bart De Wever and eight other European Union leaders want more room to take action against irregular migration and crime in their countries. In a joint letter, they call for a debate on the interpretation of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), arguing that current legal constraints hinder national decision-making.
De Wever participated in a meeting about "migration-realistic countries" ahead of March's summit of European leaders. These countries advocate for a faster and stricter overhaul of EU migration rules.
The idea for the letter emerged during last week’s meeting of the European Political Community in Albania, where Italy and Denmark proposed drafting a common position to address legal and political barriers in tackling illegal migration and criminality. Following internal consultation, De Wever agreed to co-sign the letter.
"The world has fundamentally changed since many of our ideas emerged from the ashes of the world wars"
"We are leaders of countries that hold human rights in high regard (...). However, we also consider it necessary to start a discussion on how international treaties fit in with the challenges we face," the letter says.
"The world has fundamentally changed since many of our ideas emerged from the ashes of the world wars. These ideas are universal and enduring. But today, we live in a globalised world where people cross borders on a completely different scale."
Balancing rights
The signatories express concern about migrants who "do not contribute positively to the communities that receive them and choose to commit crimes". While many EU countries have already tightened their policies on irregular migration, they argue that legal and institutional barriers continue to impede effective action.
Specifically, they point to the interpretation of the ECHR by the European Court of Human Rights, which they say "has limited our ability to take political decisions in our own democracies."
While affirming the enduring relevance of the Convention’s principles, the letter calls for a reassessment of how to balance those rights with public safety and national sovereignty.
Greater autonomy
The leaders are asking for more autonomy in deciding when to deport migrants involved in criminal activity, particularly in cases involving serious or drug-related crimes.
They also want greater discretion in managing cases where criminals cannot be expelled, as well as "effective measures" to counter "hostile states that use our values and rights against us, for example, by instrumentalising migrants at our borders".
"This letter is a call to take this problem seriously and finally show decisiveness"
"Many European leaders are frustrated about the obstacles we repeatedly encounter in tackling illegal criminals who abuse the openness of our societies. This also leads to a great deal of dissatisfaction among the European population," De Wever said.
"This letter is a call to take this problem seriously and finally show decisiveness. Unfortunately, our country is all too familiar with this problem. As prime minister of this country, I therefore support this call 100 per cent."
Tough stances
Alongside De Wever, the letter was signed by Mette Frederiksen of Denmark, Giorgia Meloni of Italy, Christian Stocker of Austria, Petr Fiala of Czechia, Kristen Michal of Estonia, Erika Silina of Latvia, Gitanas Nauseda of Lithuania and Donald Tusk of Poland.
Several of the signatories, including the far-right Meloni and social-democrat Frederiksen, are known for their tough stances on migration.
"We are not asking for a free pass. We are asking for the possibility to protect what is essential: the safety of our citizens"
"When legal interpretations systematically clash with the sense of justice and the reality on the ground, the support for that same rule of law threatens to collapse," said Belgium's Asylum and Migration minister, Anneleen Van Bossuyt of N-VA.
"That is why Belgium supports this appeal. Not to undermine human rights but to rebalance them with responsibilities. We are not asking for a free pass. We are asking for the possibility to protect what is essential: the safety of our citizens."
© BELGA PHOTO ERIC LALMAND
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