The European Commission has confirmed for the first time plans for talks in Brussels with the de facto Taliban authorities of Afghanistan, after Euractiv reported for the first time preparations for a politically sensitive meeting with a focus on deportations.
The recognition ends weeks of silence from Brussels over plans for a Taliban delegation to visit the Belgian capital before the summer, at the invitation of Sweden and the Commission, for discussions on Afghan returns.
A spokesman for the Commission said Euractiv on Monday that DG HOME, the EU’s executive department for migration, is working with the Swedish justice ministry on a “possible follow-up technical meeting” with Afghan officials in Brussels.
Until now, the Commission had refused to confirm whether such talks were being prepared. The statement also marks the first official confirmation from Brussels of Sweden’s role in organizing a possible Taliban visit to the EU’s neighbourhood.
The spokesman declined to say whether invitations had already been sent. But EU officials said earlier Euractiv in April that they expected invitations to go out soon, with the meeting possibly as early as next month.
Swedish Migration Minister Johan Forssell already had confirmed Stockholm’s role in pushing the talks forward last month.
The Commission has previously accepted it technical contacts with the Taliban on deportations, including a January visit to Kabul by EU and Belgian officials.
The planned Brussels talks will remain strictly technical, without political representation, to avoid any suggestion of diplomatic recognition of Afghanistan’s de facto Taliban authorities.
EXCLUSIVE: Brussels to host Taliban in Afghan deportation talks
A Taliban delegation is expected in Brussels before the summer for highly sensitive talks with…
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