EU faces criticism after inviting Taliban officials for migrant return talks

BRUSSELS: The European Commission said on Tuesday that it had invited Taliban officials to Brussels for discussions on the return of migrants to Afghanistan, defending a move that has triggered criticism over both practical and ethical concerns.

EU migration officials, working with Sweden, sent a letter to Taliban authorities to arrange a date for the meeting in the Belgian capital. The European Union does not formally recognise the Taliban administration, which has remained largely isolated internationally since returning to power in 2021 and enforcing a strict version of law.

Commission spokesman Markus Lammert said the invitation did not amount to formal recognition of the Taliban authorities. He described the proposed meeting as a follow-up to two rounds of technical talks previously held between EU and Taliban officials in Afghanistan. “This does not by any means constitute a recognition,” said commission spokesman Markus Lammert, who characterised the meeting as a “follow-up” to two rounds of “technical” talks by EU and Taliban officials in Afghanistan.

The decision drew immediate criticism from migrant rights advocates and politicians on the left. Green EU lawmaker Melissa Camara warned the commission against proceeding, saying it should “not to cross this red line”. She said bringing Taliban officials to Brussels would amount to “abandoning the values and rights on which the European Union is founded.”

Returns policy under scrutiny

The talks come as European governments tighten immigration policies. Around 20 of the EU’s 27 member states are considering ways to send migrants back to Afghanistan, especially those with criminal convictions. In a letter sent in October, several member states called on the EU to identify diplomatic and practical means to advance the issue.

Lammert said the focus was on individuals considered a security concern by member states. “We’re speaking here about persons who pose a security threat. These are the persons that member states want to return,” Lammert said.

Rights groups and aid organisations have raised concerns about the consequences of returning Afghans at a time when the country is facing a major humanitarian emergency. Since 2023, more than five million Afghans have returned from Iran and Pakistan, often by force. International organisations say many of them are living in severe hardship, without reliable housing or jobs. “Deporting Afghans back to a country where almost half of the population cannot feed themselves is not a migration policy; it is a decision that could cost lives,” said Lisa Owen, the International Rescue Committee’s country director for Afghanistan.

Visa and logistics questions remain

The proposed visit also raises logistical issues. Taliban officials would require an exceptional visa to travel to Brussels. Belgium’s foreign ministry said it would in principle be prepared to issue such a visa in its role as host country for the European institutions.

The European Commission did not specify which Taliban representatives would be invited or who would cover the costs of the visit.

According to EU data, member states received about one million asylum applications from Afghans between 2013 and 2024. Roughly half of those applications were approved during that period. In 2025, Afghans still accounted for the largest share of asylum applicants in the bloc by a wide margin.