Published on 6/24/2026
European Union officials began talks with a delegation from the Afghan government in Brussels on Tuesday about accelerating the return of rejected asylum seekers to Afghanistan, during a visit that was met with sharp criticism from human rights activists.
Although it was not officially recognized, the European Commission invited the five-person delegation to hold discussions as part of efforts aimed at reducing irregular migration and accelerating deportations.
Afghan Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi, who led the delegation, said after the talks: “It is hoped that this visit will open new ways for positive interaction, enhance dealing with the problems of Afghans residing abroad, and expand horizons of cooperation based on mutual respect and common interests.”
Balkhi reported that the discussions focused on resuming consular services for Afghans in Europe, “confidence-building measures,” “effective presence,” and resolving “the problems of Afghan asylum seekers in Europe whose applications have not been accepted and who face many problems.”
Ali added that the delegation held multilateral and bilateral meetings with member states of the European Union.
A European Commission spokesman explained that 15 European Union countries participated in a “technical level meeting” that Sweden co-chaired, which confirms the widespread interest in the initiative.
For logistical cooperation
European governments have sought to toughen their positions on immigration in response to public opinion and the rise of far-right parties across the continent.
As the number of migrants arriving to the continent declines in 2025, the European Union’s focus has shifted to improving the deportation system, noting that less than 30% of people ordered to be deported currently return to their countries.
The commission said the talks focused on the possibility of returning Afghans “who have committed serious crimes and pose a security threat,” and dealt with practical issues such as identifying them and issuing travel documents to them.
The meeting came after a visit by European Union officials to Afghanistan with the aim of giving member states responsible for arranging returns an opportunity to “establish a line of communication” with the Taliban authorities. The first meeting was between Taliban officials and representatives of the European Union in Brussels.
Swedish Immigration Minister Johan Forssell said after the discussions that “the ability to return people who do not have the legal right to remain in the country is a cornerstone of a reliable and well-functioning asylum and migration system.”
Union values
While Brussels and the European Union countries denied that hosting Taliban officials constitutes recognition of the government in Kabul, critics, including prominent human rights organizations, see this step as representing a retreat from the bloc’s values.
Activists said that the move undermines the international bloc’s position on human rights and raises questions about what Brussels can offer Kabul in exchange for cooperation on migration.
Cecilia Strada, a member of the European Parliament from the Social Democratic bloc, criticized the talks and said that it was “a shameful chapter for Europe… The Commission legitimizes a system that violates the rights of women and girls,” as she put it.
For his part, the Amnesty International official said during a small demonstration outside the Commission’s offices in the Belgian capital, “It is truly a slap in the face of the values that the European Union and Belgium are supposed to defend.”
On Monday, Belgium, which issued the documents in its capacity as the host country for the European institutions, confirmed that it had granted the five required one-day visas “after a security assessment.” It is only valid for entry into Belgium, not the wider European Schengen area.
This month, EU Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner defended the outreach move, saying Brussels had no other choice but to talk to the Taliban government about returning Afghan irregular migrants.
European governments have sought to adopt a tougher stance on immigration as public opinion hardens, boosting the electoral gains of far-right parties across the continent.
One million Afghan asylum requests
European Union countries received about one million asylum applications submitted by Afghans between 2013 and 2024, according to data from the bloc’s statistics agency. About half of this number was approved during that period.
About 20 countries out of 27 members of the European Union expressed in a letter last year their interest in returning some migrants who do not have the right to remain to Afghanistan, especially those who have criminal records.
Some countries have moved in this direction, with Germany deporting more than 100 criminally convicted Afghans since 2024, and Austria following suit.
Rights groups have questioned the legality and ethics of returning migrants to a country experiencing a severe humanitarian crisis, where millions face hunger and economic hardship, according to the United Nations.
European governments closed their embassies in Kabul when the Taliban authorities returned to power in 2021.
