Taliban Delegation Heads to Brussels for Controversial EU Migration Talks

A delegation from the Afghan Taliban is expected to travel to Brussels on Tuesday for talks with European Union officials on migration policy, following the issuance of a one-day visa by Belgian authorities. The discussions are centered on the return of Afghan nationals whose asylum applications in Europe have been rejected.

The European Commission has invited the representatives as part of its broader effort to tighten control over irregular migration and increase deportations. However, the EU does not formally recognize the Taliban administration that took power in Kabul in 2021.

Belgium, acting as host country for EU institutions, approved five visas after conducting a security review. Officials confirmed the permits are strictly limited to Belgian territory, are valid for a single day, and do not allow access to the wider Schengen area. The timing of the delegation’s arrival has not been officially disclosed, though reports suggest the meeting is scheduled for Tuesday. The group is believed to be traveling through Turkey.

The outreach has triggered strong criticism from human rights organizations, who argue that engagement of this kind undermines the EU’s stated principles. “EU countries are undermining their credibility by condemning Taliban abuses and pursuing accountability on one hand, while cooperating with the Taliban to forcibly return Afghans on the other,” said Fereshta Abbasi of Human Rights Watch.

EU governments closed their embassies in Kabul after the Taliban regained control in 2021 and have since refused to recognize their rule. The administration enforces strict social restrictions, including severe limits on women’s mobility, bans on access to parks and gyms, and the prohibition of education for girls beyond the age of 12.

Despite this, EU migration officials argue that engagement is necessary. EU Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner has defended the approach, saying Brussels has limited alternatives when dealing with the return of irregular migrants.

Member states have increasingly pushed for tougher migration policies, a trend that has also influenced political dynamics across Europe. According to EU data, around one million Afghans applied for asylum in the bloc between 2013 and 2024, with roughly half receiving approval.

A significant number of EU countries have expressed interest in returning individuals who are deemed to have no legal right to remain, particularly those convicted of crimes or considered security risks. “The focus for member states is very much on persons who have committed serious crimes or who pose a security threat,” said commission spokesperson Markus Lammert.

Rights groups, however, continue to question both the legality and moral justification of returning migrants to Afghanistan, citing the country’s ongoing humanitarian crisis, widespread poverty, and severe food insecurity affecting millions of people, according to United Nations assessments.