The European Union has begun initial contact with the Taliban government to discuss the return of Afghan migrants whose asylum requests have been rejected. This marks the first technical-level engagement between the EU and Afghanistan’s de facto authorities for deportation purposes. The announcement was made during a press briefing in Brussels by EU Commission spokesperson Markus Lammer.
He confirmed that the talks started earlier this year at the request of several EU member states. The goal is to make progress on deporting Afghan nationals from Europe, particularly those staying illegally. According to Lammer, discussions are still at an early stage and focused on technical cooperation rather than formal diplomatic ties.
Read more: Pakistan starts deporting registered Afghan refugees, says UNHCR
This move comes after 20 EU countries, led by Belgium, signed a joint letter urging the European Commission to deal directly with the Taliban. Countries like Germany, Austria, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, and Poland supported the letter. These nations are pushing for tighter immigration controls amid rising pressure from right-wing parties across Europe.
Belgian Immigration Minister Annelies Verlinden said the EU can no longer ignore the issue. She highlighted the inability to deport even convicted Afghan migrants as a threat to public safety. She called for a unified European strategy to restore public trust and uphold border security.
Read more: Afghans Face Deportation in Pakistan While Awaiting Visas
Currently, the EU has limited diplomatic presence in Afghanistan, mostly focused on humanitarian aid and technical cooperation. Despite that, the deportation rate remains low. Only 20% of people issued deportation orders are actually returned to their countries. Member states hope this new dialogue with the Taliban will improve enforcement and ease political tensions at home.