EU Invites Taliban for Talks on Afghan Migrants
This past weekend, Afghan media outlets disclosed that the Taliban has received an invitation from the European Union (EU) to hold discussions at its Brussels headquarters regarding the repatriation of Afghan migrants. The talks are scheduled for June 22 and 23.
According to the Afghan newspaper Hashte Subh, several other news organizations reported similar findings but noted that no official comment had been made by the Taliban, and it remains unclear whether the group has obtained the necessary visas to enter the EU. This could present a challenge, especially given the longstanding violent activities many Taliban leaders engaged in before they took control in Kabul on August 15, 2021. Their actions had been directed at a coalition of nations, including several EU member states, involved in counter-terrorism efforts post-September 11, 2001.
Discussions among EU leaders about a potential dialogue with the Taliban stirred up criticism in May from global human rights advocates. These figures highlighted the group’s history of severe violence against Afghan citizens, particularly women and girls. European leaders justified the talks by asserting they were critical for addressing the security situation regarding Afghan individuals whose asylum applications had been denied. They also emphasized that interaction with the Taliban shouldn’t be construed as acknowledging them as the legitimate government of Afghanistan, a status they lack according to most of the world and the United Nations, even after nearly five years of controlling the country.
Hashte Subh reported that it had secured a letter formally inviting Taliban spokesperson Abdul Kahal Balki to the Brussels talks. The letter, signed by officials from the European Commission and the Swedish Ministry of Justice, specified the meeting would occur on June 22 and 23, 2026, focusing on the return of Afghan nationals without residency rights in the EU or Schengen areas.
The Schengen area, which allows movement across multiple countries without visa checks, requires individuals from outside the region to undergo strict border control processes. For Balki and two other Taliban representatives, the Belgian government will reportedly facilitate their entry into the Schengen area, although a third party—expected to be Turkey—might be involved.
This planned meeting seems to stem from pressures on EU member states to respond to the significant influx of Afghan migrants, many of whom fled the Taliban. Estimates suggest that 65 percent of Afghan asylum seekers in Europe have achieved refugee status, yet thousands labeled ineligible remain stranded in camps without means to return home.
In October 2025, a coalition of 19 EU nations, along with Norway, urged EU leaders to swiftly devise a plan for expelling Afghan nationals lacking asylum. The letter outlined that European governments were already hosting 2,815 Afghans in temporary accommodations due to their rejected asylum applications, raising the urgency for the Taliban’s involvement in repatriation efforts.
Belgian Minister for Refugees and Migration, Anneline van Bosschut, stressed that without proper returns, any immigration strategy would be ineffective, insisting on the necessity of a firm message emphasizing the need for those not entitled to stay in Europe to return home.
She also indicated that in 2024, Afghans were notably involved in incidents within reception centers, hinting that keeping individuals denied safe asylum poses security risks.
Talks of potential negotiations with the Taliban began circulating in early June. EU Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner recognized the challenge of engaging with the Taliban without recognizing them as a legitimate government but maintained that dialogue was essential to ameliorate the situation for both Europeans and asylum seekers.
The EU had previously signed a Joint Declaration on Migration Cooperation with Afghanistan in April 2021, aiming to tackle illegal migration and aid those returning to Afghanistan. However, the situation shifted dramatically four months later when the Taliban swiftly regained control as the Afghan government collapsed.
