BRUSSELS: European Parliament member Hannah Neumann has criticised the European Union’s recent meeting with Taliban representatives in Brussels, warning that such engagement risks politically normalising the group without accountability.
Speaking on Tuesday, Neumann said the European Commission had described the talks as technical engagement focused on the return of Afghans convicted of serious crimes, including terrorism, murder or rape.
However, she said reports from Germany suggested authorities were also preparing to deport Afghans who had no criminal convictions.
Neumann expressed particular concern over the possibility that Afghanistan’s consular services in European countries could be handed over to the Taliban.
She said the Taliban had made clear that the return of Afghan nationals depended on functioning consular services. The lawmaker questioned whether the European Commission was creating a pathway for the Taliban to take control of Afghan consular services in Europe.
Earlier this month, the Taliban’s Foreign Ministry said its delegation held talks with EU officials in Brussels on restoring consular services for Afghans in Europe, expanding relations with European countries and discussing rejected asylum seekers.
Neumann warned that transferring consular services to the Taliban would go beyond deportation arrangements and could affect thousands of Afghans who fled the group’s rule.
“For Afghans who fled Taliban, this is not an abstract diplomatic question,” she said.
She urged the European Commission to clarify who may be returned to Afghanistan and how Afghans in Europe would be protected from transnational repression.
