Belgium’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has responded to calls for canceling the invitation extended to Taliban administration representatives to Brussels, stating that decisions regarding holding meetings and inviting delegations fall under the jurisdiction of European institutions, not the Belgian government. The ministry emphasized that any potential presence of Taliban representatives in Brussels should not be interpreted as Belgium officially recognizing them.<\/p>\n
Lawrence Swinnen, spokesperson for Belgium\u2019s Foreign Ministry, told Afghanistan International: \u201cEuropean institutions decide which meetings to hold and who to invite.\u201d He added that some meetings might include representatives of entities or regimes that Belgium does not recognize, but such attendance does not imply a direct invitation or official recognition by Belgium.<\/p>\n
According to him, if Belgium sought to independently decide on the appropriateness of invitations issued by European institutions, it would undermine Brussels’ status as an international and diplomatic capital.<\/p>\n
These remarks come amid recent protests by Afghan citizens and human rights activists across multiple countries\u2014including Afghanistan, several European nations, and North America\u2014against the possibility of Taliban representatives attending meetings in Brussels. Protesters, citing widespread and systematic human rights violations, especially severe restrictions on women and girls, have called for the cancellation or reconsideration of this invitation.<\/p>\n
Concerns primarily focus on a technical meeting scheduled for June 22-23 in Brussels, which is reported to address the return of Afghan migrants without legal residency in Europe. Critics warn that any formal engagement with the Taliban administration, while the repression of women and their exclusion from education and work continues, could be perceived as a form of political legitimization.<\/p>\n
Belgium\u2019s Foreign Ministry also stated that it has not yet received any visa applications from Taliban delegation members in connection with the European Commission\u2019s invitation. According to the ministry, visa requests must be submitted by the individuals themselves and are subject to security reviews involving relevant agencies. The list of potential delegation members was received several weeks ago, and security screenings have commenced.<\/p>\n
The ministry added that even if such a trip occurs, it will under no circumstances be considered a mission of recognition, and no individual cases will be addressed during the Brussels meetings.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, over 80 international human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch and some members of the European Parliament, have warned against this engagement. Several prominent figures have also expressed opposition to any official contact that might normalize the Taliban administration\u2019s status.<\/p>\n
In another part of its response, Belgium\u2019s Foreign Ministry emphasized the need to develop a unified European policy regarding irregular migration. The ministry stated: \u201cIgnoring the problem will not make it disappear. We need a structural solution within a clear European framework.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to the ministry, such an approach must simultaneously guarantee respect for individuals\u2019 fundamental rights while enabling the management of return processes and the regulation of relations with countries of origin. It also stressed that Belgium\u2019s policy must be \u201cfair, coherent, and consistent with international commitments\u201d and defined within the framework of human rights principles and the rule of law.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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