A coalition of nine European countries, spearheaded by Italy and Denmark, is urging the European Union to simplify the legal process for expelling foreign nationals with criminal records. The request, outlined in a joint letter, calls for a revision of how European courts interpret human rights laws in deportation cases.
The appeal, directed to EU institutions ahead of a high-level meeting in Rome between Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, highlights growing discontent over perceived judicial obstacles to removing foreign offenders.
“We have seen cases concerning the expulsion of criminal foreign nationals, where the interpretation of the Convention has resulted in the protection of the wrong people and posed too many limitations on the states’ ability to decide whom to expel from their territories,” the letter reads.
At the core of the complaint is the role of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in applying the European Convention on Human Rights. Several governments argue that current interpretations often favour individual rights over public safety and national sovereignty, making it difficult to enforce deportation orders even in serious criminal cases.
The letter, signed by the leaders of Italy, Denmark, Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland, calls on the EU to grant member states “more room nationally to decide on when to expel criminal foreign nationals.”
Both Italy and Denmark have adopted stricter migration policies in recent years. Meloni’s right-wing government came to power in 2022 with a pledge to curb illegal immigration, while Denmark has tightened its immigration rules over the past decade, drawing international attention and criticism.
The letter adds to the ongoing debate within the EU about balancing national security, human rights obligations, and immigration policy — a debate that is intensifying as migration continues to shape the political landscape across the continent.
Melissa EnochReply
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