The European Union has begun preliminary talks with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan to facilitate the return of rejected Afghan migrants from Europe.
Kabul 24: This move comes amid growing internal pressure within the EU to address illegal migration.
Marcus Lammert, an EU spokesperson, stated in Brussels that the European Commission started “exploratory technical-level contacts” with Kabul authorities earlier this year to enhance coordination among member states for migrant returns.
The initiative follows a joint letter from 20 EU member states, led by Belgium, urging Brussels to collaborate with the Islamic Emirate to expedite voluntary and forced returns of Afghan migrants.
Belgium’s Migration Minister, Annelies Verlinden, remarked, “Our inability to return illegal Afghan migrants, even after convictions, undermines public trust in asylum policies and impacts our collective security.”
Austria, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, and Sweden are among the signatories, driven by domestic concerns and the rise of far-right parties advocating stricter migration policies.
According to EU statistics, less than 20 percent of migrants ordered to leave the bloc are actually returned to their countries of origin. Sweden’s Migration Minister, Johan Forssell, suggested that member states could pool resources for returns, potentially organizing joint flights to Afghanistan.
The EU has maintained limited diplomatic engagement in Afghanistan, emphasizing that these contacts do not confer legitimacy on the Islamic Emirate and are confined to areas like humanitarian aid and development.
This approach reflects the EU’s attempt to balance migration management with its diplomatic stance on Afghanistan.
However, the talks have sparked debates about the ethical and political implications of engaging with the Islamic Emirate, particularly as many member states grapple with domestic challenges surrounding migration policies.
