EU Holds Technical Talks with Taliban on Afghan Migrants’ Return Amid Rising Concerns
The European Commission has announced that, amid growing concerns over the return of migrants to Afghanistan, technical contacts have been established with officials from the Taliban administration. However, no official meetings or invitations have taken place.
This was revealed during a press briefing in Brussels. European officials stated that these contacts followed requests from the interior and migration ministers of EU member states seeking greater coordination in the migrant return process.
According to the European Commission, the main focus of these discussions is on individuals considered security threats or those lacking legal residence rights in EU countries. Nonetheless, the responsibility for deciding on individual cases lies with the member states.
European officials have described the situation in Afghanistan as complex and sensitive, emphasizing that serious humanitarian and human rights challenges in the country legally complicate the return process. Since the Taliban took control, widespread restrictions on fundamental rights and freedoms—especially affecting women and girls—have heightened global concerns, directly impacting legal assessments related to migrant returns.
The European Commission stressed that any decisions on migrant returns must comply with EU laws and international legal principles, particularly respecting fundamental human rights.
