Brussels denies that it will grant diplomatic recognition to the Taliban as requested by the regime in the historic meeting held yesterday in Brussels. "It's not about concessions, there will be no concessions of any kind," stated Magnus Brunner, the Commissioner of Interior Affairs, when asked about the demands of the Afghan representatives. "It is solely about operational discussions on how we can repatriate criminals. That is what the discussions are about at the moment," emphasized the official from the European Commission.
The Commission, representatives from 15 EU countries, and the Taliban delegation, consisting of five members, met in Brussels on Tuesday to advance the deportation of Afghan immigrants. Brussels emphasized that the meeting followed up on the encounter they had with the regime in Kabul in January, and the initiative responds to the request made by 20 partners back in October to expedite the deportation process. Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Poland, and Italy were among them.
However, the meeting has sparked controversy in the EU capital, especially after the demands of the Taliban became known. "It was a historic visit, as it was the first time a delegation from the Islamic Emirate visited the EU and held discussions with Member States in Brussels," stated Abdul Qahar Balkhi, spokesperson for the Taliban Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who led the delegation.
He added that for the regime, it is a priority to "restart comprehensive consular services for Afghans in the EU area, including the need for confidence-building measures, consular presence, and a dignified return process." This includes diplomatic recognition. Currently, only Germany has accepted diplomats appointed by the regime. In other countries, embassy officials remain those appointed before the Taliban came to power, before 2021. Afghan officials want their diplomatic personnel to be recognized and established.
By accepting this, the Commission would be recognizing a totalitarian, misogynistic regime that does not respect human rights. Essentially, the opposite of what is outlined in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. However, the Commission points to the capitals, stating that they are the ones who have mandated negotiations with the Taliban, and this is what Europeans have requested through their votes: more control over migration and the expulsion of those who commit crimes and pose a danger to society.