EU holds first official talks with Taliban delegation over Afghan deportations
A Taliban delegation met European Commission officials and representatives of 15 EU member states in Brussels on June 23, the first official Taliban visit to the bloc since the group seized power in 2021. The talks centered on deportation procedures and what the parties called “dignified returns” of Afghans, with the Taliban side also raising a possible consular presence in Europe.
The meeting reflects a practical bind for EU governments: Afghans are among the largest groups of asylum seekers, and accelerating returns of rejected applicants requires some cooperation from Kabul. No member state recognizes the Taliban government, so engagement is being framed as technical rather than a step toward recognition.
The opening drew sharp criticism from rights advocates, including Malala Yousafzai, who argue that any normalization lends legitimacy to a government accused of severe abuses, particularly against women and girls. The episode underscores the tension between migration management and the EU’s stated human rights commitments.