**EU to Host Migration Meeting with Taliban Officials in Brussels**
The European Union (EU) is set to hold a significant meeting with a Taliban delegation in Brussels, focusing on migration issues, particularly the deportation of Afghan asylum seekers. This meeting marks the first time the EU has engaged with the Taliban since the group regained power in Afghanistan nearly five years ago.
Belgium has issued five visas to the Taliban representatives, allowing them to attend the discussions scheduled for Tuesday. A spokesperson from the Belgian Foreign Ministry confirmed that the visas were granted following a security assessment and are valid for just one day in Belgium.
The European Commission has invited the Taliban officials to discuss irregular migration from Afghanistan to the EU's 27 member states. The agenda will include conversations about the deportation of Afghan nationals whose asylum applications have been rejected. Although the specific members of the Taliban delegation have not been disclosed, it is known that several senior Taliban leaders are currently under EU sanctions.
Markus Lammert, a spokesman for the European Commission, stated that EU member states are exploring ways to return individuals who have committed serious crimes or are considered security threats. He emphasized that the Commission is following up on this initiative to address the issue of Afghan nationals without the right to reside in the EU.
A letter addressed to Abdul Qahar Balkhi, the Taliban Foreign Ministry spokesman, outlined that the meeting would center on the "return and readmission of Afghan nationals without a right to stay in the European Union." However, the European Commission has made it clear that this meeting does not equate to formal recognition of the Taliban government.
Since the Taliban's return to power in August 2021, the group has faced international criticism for its human rights record, particularly regarding the rights of women and girls. The Taliban has imposed restrictions on women's freedom of movement, barred girls from attending school beyond primary education, and enforced strict morality laws. In response to these actions, European governments closed their embassies in Kabul.
Human rights organizations have voiced strong opposition to the EU's decision to engage with the Taliban. Fereshta Abbasi, an Afghanistan researcher at Human Rights Watch, urged that any dialogue with the Taliban should prioritize human rights and accountability rather than focusing on deportations to a country where conditions remain perilous.
Earlier this month, the EU's migration chief, Magnus Brunner, defended the outreach to the Taliban, stating that the EU had no alternative but to engage with the Taliban government regarding the return of Afghan asylum seekers who entered the bloc irregularly. As public sentiment toward migration has hardened across Europe, governments have been increasingly inclined to adopt stricter migration policies, which have led to gains for far-right political parties.
Since 2013, EU countries have received approximately one million asylum applications from Afghan nationals. While Afghans have historically enjoyed high recognition rates for asylum, the overall acceptance of asylum applications has tightened as migration policies have become more restrictive. A letter from last year indicated that around 20 of the EU's 27 member states expressed interest in returning migrants without a right to stay, particularly those with criminal records.
EU law permits the deportation of individuals convicted of serious crimes or deemed security threats, but returns to Afghanistan have been limited due to the absence of diplomatic relations. Lammert reiterated that the focus for member states is primarily on individuals who pose security risks or have committed serious offenses.
The situation in Afghanistan remains dire, with the country experiencing a severe humanitarian crisis. The United Nations World Food Programme reports that over 17 million Afghans, approximately one-third of the population, are food insecure. Additionally, Afghanistan is facing an influx of returnees from Iran and Pakistan, further exacerbating the challenges within the nation.
Eve Geddie, director of Amnesty International's European Institutions Office, expressed concern over the EU's potential deportation plans, highlighting the recent memories of people, including EU staff, fleeing Afghanistan. She described the prospect of deporting individuals to an increasingly dangerous Afghanistan as "unconscionable."
As the EU prepares for this unprecedented meeting, the outcomes will likely have significant implications for both Afghan asylum seekers in Europe and the broader humanitarian situation in Afghanistan.