The European Commission will meet with a delegation of Taliban leaders on Tuesday to negotiate and expedite the deportation of Afghan immigrants. "Of individuals who represent a security threat and serious criminals that Member States wish to return," explained the European Commission's spokesperson for Interior Affairs, Markus Lammert, on Tuesday
The Commission is reluctant to provide more details, stating that it is a technical meeting, and that this type of meeting is never announced in advance. However, Kabul has confirmed the meeting, stating that "the delegation has departed and will hold meetings today in Brussels." "They will meet with some representatives of the European Union," added a source quoted by EFE
The Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the other hand, announced yesterday that it has authorized the issuance of five one-day visas, but did not clarify the exact date of the meeting. These documents will only be valid for Belgian territory and not for the rest of the Schengen area. In other words, the Taliban emissaries will arrive in the Belgian capital, meet with EU authorities, and depart on the same day.
This is a historic meeting, the first reception in the EU since the Taliban came to power in Afghanistan in 2021, which has sparked significant controversy in Brussels. However, the Commission points out that it follows the request made by 20 countries, led by Germany and Belgium, back in October to advance returns.
"Contacts with representatives of the de facto authorities of Afghanistan have been ongoing for some time. A first meeting took place in Afghanistan in January. As a result, the Commission has been preparing for a meeting here in Brussels. These technical-level contacts are in response to an initiative by 20 Member States," Lammert continued.
"In a letter, these 20 Member States asked the Commission to coordinate technical contacts on returns. The objective of these Member States is to return individuals who have committed serious crimes or who pose a security threat. Therefore, it is this initiative by the 20 Member States that the Commission is implementing," he added. Brussels clearly wants to emphasize that the controversial meeting is not solely the idea of President Von der Leyen. Or, at least, not only hers, and that it is also due to the request of a broad majority of partners.
And, of course, the meeting is set in the context of tightening migration policies in the European Union, which also includes return centers. In fact, some voices in Brussels suggested that the negotiations with the Taliban could also involve the establishment of one of these hubs in Afghan territory. Others rule out this possibility and point to Uzbekistan or Kazakhstan.