The European Union plans to invite representatives of Afghanistan’s Taliban-led authorities to Brussels for talks focused on migration and possible returns of Afghan nationals, an EU spokesperson said.
The meeting is being organised at the request of several EU member states and would be a technical-level follow-up to contact the bloc’s officials previously held in Kabul in January. No date has been set and the EU emphasised that hosting the delegation would not amount to formal recognition of the Taliban government.
The planned Brussels visit appears to be the first publicly announced trip by Taliban officials to the city, although the spokesperson said he could not definitively confirm that it is the very first such visit.
Since the Taliban regained power five years ago, Western countries have largely declined to recognise the insurgent movement’s government. Still, EU governments face practical challenges over migration: hundreds of thousands of Afghans have sought asylum in Europe since the takeover, and some member states want to step up removal procedures.
European law allows deportation of migrants who commit crimes or are deemed security risks, but carrying out returns to Afghanistan has been complicated by the absence of regular diplomatic relations and practical arrangements with Kabul.
The EU said Sweden is helping to coordinate the Brussels meeting. A Swedish government response to requests for comment was not immediately available.
