Neumann: EU must not invite Taliban to talks in Brussels

Hannah Neumann, a German member of the European Parliament, has renewed her opposition to possible talks between the European Union and the Taliban in Brussels, saying any such engagement would undermine the bloc’s credibility and help legitimize the Taliban.

“The EU must not invite the Taliban to talks in Brussels. Because anyone who sacrifices foreign policy principles for deportation deals loses credibility and security,” she said in a post on X on Tuesday.

The European Commission has confirmed plans to host a Taliban delegation in Brussels as early as mid-June as part of discussions on the return of Afghan nationals facing deportation orders.

In comments published by Germany’s RND, Neumann argued that engagement with the Taliban cannot be viewed as a merely technical process.

“Inviting the Taliban is not a technical process. Every meeting, every photo, every visa is a step toward legitimacy and a political success for them,” she said as quoted by RND. “It is cynical to issue visas to Taliban representatives for Brussels while opponents of the Taliban in Afghanistan remain in uncertainty because all visa programs for them have been ended.”

According to the report, 20 European countries — including 19 EU member states and Norway — have urged the European Commission to begin technical talks with the Taliban on the return of Afghan migrants. EU migration officials reportedly traveled to Kabul earlier this year for preliminary discussions.

RND also reported that the Taliban are seeking greater diplomatic access to Europe in exchange for accepting deported Afghans, a demand that has sparked criticism from some European lawmakers and rights advocates.

The proposed talks come as European governments face growing pressure to increase deportations of migrants convicted of crimes, while continuing to grapple with how to engage with the Taliban rule, which remains unrecognized by the European Union.