The European Commission confirmed it has held “exploratory contacts at the technical level” with Afghanistan’s de facto authorities, in coordination with the EU’s External Action Service, on the issue of returns.
Brussels is already working to ensure “EU-level coordination as regards return,” including the situation of Afghan nationals, a Commission spokesperson said at a press briefing on Monday.
Over the weekend, Belgium submitted a letter to the EU’s migration chief – co-signed by 19 other countries – calling for an EU-wide mechanism to coordinate the deportation of Afghan nationals, who lack the legal right to remain in the bloc, or have been convicted of crimes.
First reported by Euractiv, the countries urge tighter coordination between the Commission, its diplomatic arm EEAS, and willing European countries. It also proposes a joint EU mission to Afghanistan.
“The Commission and the External Action Service have been in close contact with Member States on this issue,” the spokesperson said, adding that “at the beginning of this year, we initiated exploratory contacts at the technical level with the de facto authorities in Afghanistan.”
The spokesperson said that the Commission “remains ready to continue supporting Member States in their efforts.”
The European Union does not formally recognise the Taliban regime that seized power in Afghanistan in 2021.
Countries backing the Belgian initiative include Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Germany, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, and Sweden.
Some EU countries are already moving ahead at a national level. In Germany, for example, Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s coalition government is close to sealing a deal with the Taliban authorities in Kabul to restart regular deportation flights, even without formally recognising the Taliban leadership.
The largest EU country has seen two deportation flights of convicted Afghans since 2021 – one in July this year, one in 2024 – organised by Qatar in a mediating role.
(vib)
