Finland migrant deportations human rights treaty debates have moved to the center of European politics after Finland joined a group of countries calling for changes to how the European Convention on Human Rights is interpreted, particularly in cases involving foreign nationals convicted of serious crimes.
Finland is among 27 European states that signed a joint statement at an informal ministerial conference in Strasbourg on December 10. The document urges a reassessment of current legal interpretations that governments say make deportations too difficult, even when individuals pose clear security risks.
The statement was backed by the United Kingdom, Denmark, Italy, Sweden, and all Nordic countries. Several major European Union members, including Germany, France, and Spain, did not sign.
Interior Minister Mari Rantanen signed on behalf of Finland. In a government release, she said the Convention must respond to modern realities such as organized cross border crime, human trafficking, and what she described as politically motivated migration pressure.
“We must be able to remove foreign nationals who commit serious crimes, even if they have established family ties in their host country,” Rantanen said. “This is about protecting our citizens and the core values of our society.”
Legal concerns under the Convention
The joint statement focuses on how courts currently interpret two key articles of the Convention.
Article 8, which guarantees the right to private and family life, is criticized for being applied in ways that block deportations, even in cases involving violent or repeat offenders. Governments argue that personal relationships are being given disproportionate weight compared to public safety.
Article 3, which prohibits torture and inhuman or degrading treatment, is also cited as an obstacle. Signatories say the threshold for what constitutes such treatment has expanded too far, especially in cases involving prison conditions or healthcare standards in return countries.
They argue that deportations should not be halted solely on the basis of poor detention facilities or limited medical care unless the risk reaches an exceptional and extreme level.
Supporters of the statement say courts should place greater emphasis on the severity of crimes committed and less on personal circumstances when deciding deportation cases.
They also call for clearer legal grounds allowing cooperation with third countries on asylum processing and returns, as long as human rights obligations are respected.
A key concern highlighted in the document is instrumentalised migration. This refers to situations where states are accused of deliberately directing migrants toward neighboring countries to apply political pressure.
Rantanen referenced Finland’s eastern border with Russia, where authorities accused Moscow of sending asylum seekers to Finnish crossings in late 2023. Finland responded by closing its entire land border to passenger traffic, a measure that remains in force.
“The threat of instrumentalised migration still exists,” Rantanen said. “We must acknowledge these risks and respond responsibly.”
The statement does not propose rewriting the European Convention itself. Instead, it calls for a rebalancing of rights and responsibilities through updated legal interpretation by national courts and the European Court of Human Rights.
Under existing rules, only the Strasbourg based court can interpret the Convention. Governments cannot interfere with its rulings, but they hope political guidance will influence future judgments.
The Council of Europe, which oversees the Convention and the court, has confirmed that formal discussions will now begin. A political declaration is expected to be adopted at a foreign ministers summit in Chisinau, Moldova, in May 2026.
Earlier in 2025, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni publicly argued that the Convention no longer reflects Europe’s current security environment.
Frederiksen said reform would strengthen public confidence in legal systems and show voters that governments are responding to concerns about crime and migration. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has also expressed support for reviewing interpretations while maintaining the United Kingdom’s commitment to the Convention.
The Council of Europe has 46 member states. While only 27 signed the statement, talks will continue among all members ahead of the 2026 summit.
