EU Plans Taliban Visit to Brussels on Deportations

The European Union plans to invite officials from Afghanistan's de facto Taliban authorities to Brussels for a technical meeting on deporting certain Afghan migrants, marking their first known official visit to the Belgian capital.

A spokesperson for the European Commission confirmed the preparations on Monday, stating that the executive's migration department is coordinating with Sweden's justice ministry for a potential follow-up to a January meeting in Kabul between EU officials and Afghan authorities. The discussions will focus on practical arrangements for returns, particularly for migrants convicted of crimes or deemed security threats. No date has been set, though sources indicated invitations could be sent imminently, with the meeting possibly occurring before summer.

The initiative responds to requests from around 20 EU member states, outlined in an October letter urging progress on returns amid tightening immigration policies. Hundreds of thousands of Afghans have sought asylum in Europe since the Taliban seized power in 2021, overthrowing a U.S.- and NATO-backed government. EU law permits deportations in specific cases, but the absence of diplomatic relations has...