EU Engages Taliban in Brussels to Facilitate Afghan Deportations

European Commission officials convened with a Taliban delegation in Brussels to expedite the deportation of Afghan migrants facing criminal charges or security risks. The technical discussion, held outside official Commission premises due to the EU’s non-recognition of the Taliban regime, focused on addressing irregular Afghans involved in serious offenses.

The gathering, co-led by Sweden—the country with the highest Afghan population per capita—was met with criticism from lawmakers and civil society groups. They condemned the meeting as an unwarranted engagement with a regime known for systemic human rights violations, including the suppression of women’s rights and political dissent.

Swedish Migration Minister Johan Forssell defended the initiative, arguing that deportations are critical to national security. He cited 200 Afghan nationals in Sweden accused of severe crimes, such as aggravated rape and drug trafficking, and emphasized the necessity of negotiating with authoritarian regimes to safeguard Swedish interests.

The European Commission lacks precise data on the number of illicit Afghans posing security threats across the bloc. However, the Taliban’s participation was framed around deporting “Afghan nationals with no right to remain in the EU,” without explicit mention of criminality. The Commission declined to verify the authenticity of the meeting invitation.

This diplomatic outreach aligns with an EU-wide strategy to boost irregular migrant repatriation rates, currently stagnant at 29%. Affordability remains stalled, with only 340 Afghans deported out of 14,270 return orders issued in 2025. Meanwhile, over 3,300 Afghans entered Europe irregularly in 2026 via the eastern Mediterranean, while 63,000 sought asylum in the EU last year.

Most expelled Afghans remain displaced in neighboring countries like Iran and Pakistan, with 90% of the diaspora residing abroad post-2021 Taliban takeover. The Commission’s engagement with Kabul follows sustained pressure from member states, including a joint declaration by 19 nations and Norway in October to intensify deportations through direct talks with Kabul.

‘A Shameful Chapter’

Since the 2021 Taliban takeover, the EU has maintained “operational engagement” without formal recognition of the regime. Civil society and Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) vehemently oppose this approach, labeling it a normalization of ties with a regime ranked 140th in global rule of law indices.

Critics warn of potential financial incentives to the Taliban in exchange for repatriations. Commissioner efforts to clarify that no political commitments were made met little reassurance. Socialist MEP Cecilia Strada decried the meeting as “shameful,” accusing it of legitimizing a regime enforcing gender apartheid. Green MEP Saskia Bricmont condemned the inclusion of a government that “systematically oppresses women and silences dissent.”

A non-binding parliamentary resolution recently condemned the Brussels meeting, urging the EU to uphold its non-recognition policy. A proposed provision allowing talks with non-recognized states for readmission was also removed from new migration legislation.

The European Council on Refugees and Exiles asserts Afghanistan remains unsafe due to deteriorating human rights, lack of legal protections, and ongoing persecution risks.

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