EU accused of legitimising Taliban after hosting Brussels migration talks

The European Union is facing a wave of criticism after hosting a Taliban delegation in Brussels for unprecedented talks on migration and returns, with human rights groups and lawmakers warning that the engagement risks legitimising a regime accused of severe and systematic abuses, particularly against women and girls.

The meeting, held on Tuesday, brought together officials from the European Commission, Sweden and representatives from 15 EU member states with Taliban officials responsible for return and readmission matters.

According to the Commission, the discussions focused on the return of Afghan nationals who no longer have the right to remain in the European Union.

The visit has sparked strong condemnation from human rights organisations and members of the European Parliament, who argue that engagement with the Taliban risks legitimising a regime accused of systematically violating fundamental rights, particularly those of women and girls.

The EU and its member states have refused to formally recognise the Taliban government since the group seized power in 2021 following the withdrawal of US-led NATO forces. Nevertheless, Brussels has defended limited contacts with Afghanistan’s de facto authorities as necessary to facilitate the return of failed asylum seekers, particularly individuals convicted of serious crimes or deemed a security threat.

“The Commission services and Sweden co-chaired a technical-level meeting today in Brussels with technical-level representatives of the de facto authorities of Afghanistan responsible for return and readmission,” a European Commission spokesperson said.

Commission spokesperson for migration Markus Lammert told journalists that member states were seeking ways to return individuals who had committed serious offences and who might pose a security risk.

A letter from the European Commission to the Taliban’s Foreign Ministry, seen by Reuters, stated that the talks would focus on “the return and readmission of Afghan nationals without a right to stay in the EU”.

However, Afghan officials described the agenda as broader. Abdul Qahar Balkhi, spokesperson for Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry, said discussions also covered the possible establishment of a consular presence in the EU, the resumption of consular services for Afghans living in Europe and “the need for trust-building measures”.

The meeting raised “hope to build positive momentum to safeguard consular rights of Afghans residing abroad,” Balkhi said.

Human rights concerns

The talks prompted an open letter signed by 83 Afghan and international human rights organisations warning against forced returns to Afghanistan.

“Currently, Afghanistan is one of the most dangerous places in the world for women, and forced returns would expose many to persecution, violence and deprivation of rights,” the letter stated.

Human Rights Watch urged the EU to abandon plans for further discussions with the Taliban.

“Any engagement with the Taliban needs to prioritise protecting human rights and accountability – not deporting people to danger there,” said Fereshta Abbasi, Afghanistan researcher at Human Rights Watch.

Amnesty International echoed those concerns. “The desperate scenes of people, including EU staff, fleeing Afghanistan are a recent memory. It is unconscionable that the E.U. would now try and deport people to Afghanistan, which has only become more dangerous in the meantime,” said Eve Geddie, Director of Amnesty International’s European Institutions Office.

The controversy is particularly sensitive given that two senior Taliban leaders are subject to arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court over alleged crimes against humanity. The EU has also imposed sanctions on several individuals associated with the Afghan regime.

EU institutions has not disclosed which Taliban representatives attended the meeting. Belgium granted visas to the delegation allowing entry for a single day and restricting their movement to Belgian territory, rather than granting access across the Schengen area.

MEPs warn against legitimising the Taliban

As plans for the meeting emerged, 47 MEPs called on Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot to refuse visas to Taliban representatives, arguing that such contacts risk sending a political signal of legitimacy.

In a letter dated 8 June, lawmakers from five political groups – Greens/EFA, The Left, S&D, Renew Europe and the EPP – expressed “deep concern” over the proposed visit.

“The Taliban regime is responsible for massive and systematic human rights violations, particularly against women, girls, journalists, human rights defenders and minorities,” the letter said.

The lawmakers stressed that Western governments have consistently refused to recognise the Taliban authorities and warned that allowing Taliban officials to travel to Belgium could undermine that position.

“We fear that allowing Taliban representatives to obtain visas to travel to Belgium could be perceived as a form of political recognition, incompatible with the positions defended by the European institutions themselves,” said Saskia Bricmont (Greens/EFA, Belgium), the first signatory of the letter.

The MEPs pointed to what they described as an increasingly repressive legal framework introduced by the Taliban, including legislation that they say effectively legalises the marriage of girls from the age of nine.

“Under these circumstances, there can be no question of negotiating with a regime that oppresses its own people, nor of returning refugees who have fled it, let alone Afghan girls who will be forced into marriage,” the letter stated.

The Brussels meeting forms part of broader European efforts to establish procedures for returning Afghan nationals whose asylum applications have been rejected. The initiative is being coordinated with Sweden at the request of several member states and follows contacts established during discussions between EU officials and Taliban representatives in Kabul in January.

EU officials insist that participation in technical-level discussions does not amount to diplomatic recognition of the Taliban government.

Critics remain unconvinced. Referring to a European Parliament resolution adopted on 21 May 2026, the MEPs warned against “any normalisation or implicit legitimisation of the Taliban regime as long as it continues to systematically violate human rights and international law”.

The signatories called on the Belgian government to deny visas to Taliban representatives and reject negotiations with the regime on migration or other matters.

They also urged the EU to withdraw any invitation extended to Taliban officials and to uphold international obligations, including the principle of non-refoulement.

Sources: Reuters, Euractiv, The Star, press releases from NGOs

Caption: Protest against the visit of Talibans in front of the Commission building, 24 June 2026./X/@CharlesRume