The European Commission has invited Taliban representatives to Brussels for talks on deporting Afghan citizens who have been refused permission to stay in the EU.
European Commission spokesman Marcus Lammert on Tuesday classified the planned Brussels discussions as “follow-up”, saying the invitation follows the preparatory meeting for “technical dialogue” that took place in Afghanistan this January.
He said Brussels’ invitation “does not in any way imply recognition of the Taliban as the Afghan government”.
The EU does not formally recognize the Taliban’s leadership, following their sudden return to power five years ago amid a NATO withdrawal in early 2021.
Who are EU member states trying to deport?
Commission spokesman Lammert said the 20 EU members and Schengen countries originally requested the consultation last year.
The countries that started the petition complained that of the return orders issued to Afghans by EU countries in 2024, only 2% were actually repatriated.
Lammert said most had either been convicted of crimes or were considered a security threat, or both.
“We are talking here about people who pose a security threat. These are people that member countries want to return,” Lammert said.
A letter was sent on Tuesday morning seeking to set a date for talks following cooperation between Commission officials and Sweden.
Sweden and Germany were among the countries pushing for agitation on the issue, with the case in Germany following a high-profile knife attack by an Afghan national who had previously been ordered to leave the country, which featured prominently in the news in the final weeks of the 2025 federal election cycle.
Why is it difficult and controversial?
Given the security situation in Afghanistan, especially since the return of the Taliban to de facto power in 2021, European countries have struggled to repatriate migrants to the country on both political and legal grounds.
Islamists remain largely isolated internationally, although more and more governments are leaning towards partial recognition and cooperation, not least because of their restrictions on women and girls.
In 2024, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled that the Taliban’s treatment of women constituted oppression.
“Every withdrawal decision must be consistent with EU and international law, including specific fundamental rights,” Lammert said.
According to the UNHCR refugee agencySince October 2023, countries such as Pakistan and Iran have deported more than 5 million Afghans, many not by choice. NGOs report that many people live in extreme hardship upon their return, without homes or stable employment.
Edited by: Jennifer Cimino Gonzalez