European Parliament member Hannah Neumann criticised the EU’s recent meeting with Taliban representatives in Brussels, saying it was not merely “technical engagement” but a step towards politically normalising relations without holding the group accountable.
Speaking on Tuesday, Neumann said the European Commission claimed its talks with the Taliban were limited to the return of people convicted of terrorism, murder or rape.
She said reports from Germany suggested authorities were preparing to deport Afghans with no criminal convictions.
The MEP also expressed concern that Afghanistan’s consular services in European countries could be handed over to the Taliban.
According to Neumann, the Taliban has made clear that the return of Afghan nationals depends on functioning consular services. She questioned whether the European Commission was paving the way for the Taliban to take control of Afghanistan’s consular services in Europe.
Earlier this month, the Taliban’s Foreign Ministry said its delegation’s talks with EU officials in Brussels focused on restoring consular services for Afghans living in Europe, expanding ties with European countries and discussing the situation of asylum seekers whose applications had been rejected.
Neumann warned that transferring consular services to the Taliban would go beyond facilitating deportations and could affect the lives of thousands of Afghans living in Europe.
“For Afghans who fled Taliban, this is not an abstract diplomatic question” she wrote.
The MEP urged the European Commission to clarify who would be returned to Afghanistan, how Afghans living in Europe would be protected from what she described as “transnational repression”, and what concessions the Taliban would receive in return for such cooperation.
