Dutch official joins EU talks with Taliban on return of rejected asylum seekers

A Dutch government official is taking part in talks between the European Commission and the Taliban, according to sources cited after reporting by de Volkskrant. The discussions are being held at the administrative level and focus on the possible return of rejected asylum seekers to Afghanistan. A Taliban delegation travelled to Brussels on Tuesday for the consultations, as previously reported by multiple media outlets.

Asylum Minister Bart van den Brink said through his spokesperson that several member states, including the Netherlands, are taking part in follow-up talks. "This does not mean that the Netherlands will normalise relations with the Taliban," said the CDA minister. "We absolutely do not see the regime as the official government of the Afghan people. Nevertheless, I believe this practical approach by the European Union gives us a chance to better arrange the return of Afghans who are not allowed to remain in the EU back to Afghanistan."

Belgium said on Monday it had granted five short-stay, one-day visas to a delegation from the Taliban. The European Commission has been engaged in discussions with the Afghan authorities for some time about the potential return of rejected asylum seekers. Earlier this year, EU officials also visited Afghanistan as part of those ongoing contacts.

Human rights organisations and members of the European Parliament are highly critical of a visit by representatives of the brutal regime. MEP Raquel García Hermida-van der Walle calls the visit "a slap in the face" and "a defeat for our values."

EU Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner previously said that the European Union should maintain contact with the Taliban, arguing that continued dialogue is necessary. “Even if it were only to improve the situation for Europeans, but also for asylum seekers,” Brunner said in an interview on Thursday.

Brunner said it remains important to engage in dialogue with the Taliban about returning Afghan nationals to their country of origin. He argued that cooperation between the EU and the Taliban could be useful in this area, particularly in cases involving convicted offenders and individuals considered a security risk to the European Union.

Brunner said he understands the criticism from those opposed to the visit of Taliban representatives to Brussels. However, he noted that 21 EU member states have requested that he enter into dialogue with the Taliban. “It is not just my personal view that we should talk to them,” he said. The Commissioner emphasised that the EU will not recognise the Taliban as Afghanistan’s legitimate government.