EU Socialists Criticize Invitation of Taliban Representatives to Brussels Meeting
Iratxe García, leader of the Socialists in the European Parliament, has strongly criticized the European Commission’s decision to invite representatives of the Taliban administration to a meeting in Brussels on the deportation of Afghan migrants. She stated, “Afghan people should not pay the price for the actions of the Taliban.”
During a session in the European Parliament, García emphasized that the global community must use all its capacities to prevent Afghanistan from returning to the “dark era of the Taliban regime.” Addressing Afghan citizens, she assured that she and her colleagues stand with the people of Afghanistan and stressed that protecting women’s rights must be a priority.
Referring to the widespread restrictions imposed by the Taliban administration against women, García added that inviting such a group to Brussels—while girls are deprived of education and women are excluded from social life—sends a worrying message. She underscored that Europe cannot become a “deportation machine” that negotiates with serious human rights violators while simultaneously speaking of its values.
García warned that any legitimization of a structure accused of enforcing discriminatory gender policies would mean the European Union drifting away from its proclaimed principles.
Following the European Commission’s official confirmation of sending an invitation to the Taliban, numerous human rights organizations and left-wing political factions in Europe have expressed concern about the consequences of this move. They warned that this process could indirectly lead to normalizing relations with the Taliban administration.
According to a Euronews report, Social Democratic parties and left-wing groups in the European Parliament criticized this initiative. Juan Fernando López Aguilar, a member of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs of the European Parliament, described the move as a source of “astonishment” and “anger,” noting that his political group intends to bring the issue for public debate in a plenary session.
Earlier, Marcos Lamert, spokesperson for the European Commission, confirmed that an invitation had been sent to Taliban representatives to participate in a “technical” meeting regarding the return of Afghan migrants. He explained that the invitation came from the Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs of the European Union, in cooperation with the Swedish Ministry of Justice, and continues the dialogue that took place in Afghanistan in January of this year.
The European Commission spokesperson added that the initiative was proposed at the request of 20 EU member states and Schengen-associated countries, who sought coordinated contacts with Taliban officials concerning migrant returns.
