EU countries want to make it easier to deport criminal migrants: “Protecting our citizens”

Deporting criminal migrants should become easier. That is the message Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, together with eight other EU leaders, is sending in an open letter.

“Many European leaders are frustrated by the recurring obstacles we face when trying to deal with illegal criminals who take advantage of our open societies,” explains Bart De Wever. “This also fuels public discontent across Europe. With this letter, we are calling for a serious and resolute response to this issue. Unfortunately, Belgium is all too familiar with this problem. As Prime Minister, I fully support this appeal.”

On the radio show De Ochtend, Migration Minister Anneleen Van Bossuyt elaborated on the initiative: “Today, we often fail to deport illegal criminals precisely because of the way international treaties are applied.” She cited the example of a man who violently attacked his partner in front of their children. Although he lost his residency rights, he cannot be deported because of the ‘right to family life’.

Law must reflect the public’s sense of justice

According to Anneleen Van Bossuyt, such situations clash directly with people’s sense of justice: “Someone who commits such acts should be expelled from our country. We must always be able to guarantee the safety of our citizens—and right now, we often can’t.”

The letter from the nine EU member states is not an attack on human rights, Van Bossuyt stresses. “This appeal is not about undermining human rights or seeking a carte blanche. It’s about finding a balance between those rights and the responsibilities we face today. What we are asking for is the ability to protect what is essential: the safety of our citizens.”

“We want to open the debate”

The minister emphasizes that the letter is an invitation to launch a broader European discussion. “We’re calling for a reflection on how we can adapt the rules without undermining the foundations of the European Convention on Human Rights. Judges need a legal framework that allows for deportations while safeguarding our collective security.”

“People no longer understand this situation. And when the justice system loses its credibility, the entire society is at risk,” Van Bossuyt concludes.