EU and Afghan interim government hold migrant repatriation talks in Brussels

China News Service, Brussels, June 23 (Reporter Tokuyong Ken) The European Union and the Afghan interim government held immigration repatriation talks in Brussels on the 23rd. This was the first time the EU contacted the Afghan interim government at its headquarters.

The talks that day were held behind closed doors, and the two sides did not report the status of the talks. According to multiple media reports, the EU side was chaired by a representative from Sweden, and 14 other EU member states sent representatives to participate in the meeting. They hope to repatriate Afghan immigrants who have committed serious crimes or pose a security threat in their countries as soon as possible.

Later on the 23rd, Afghan interim government officials told the media that the five-member Afghan interim government delegation visiting Brussels this time hopes to restart consular services in the EU, including establishing mutual trust with the EU, opening consular agencies, and ensuring that the repatriation process respects the human dignity of Afghan immigrants.

Since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in August 2021, this is the first time that the EU has contacted the Afghan interim government at its headquarters. Previously, a spokesman for the European Commission said that in January this year, the two sides held the first round of migrant repatriation talks in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, and then the EU planned to hold the second round of migrant repatriation talks in Brussels.

Afghan immigrants have continued to flow into the EU in recent years. According to EU statistics, more than 360,000 people will obtain asylum status in the EU in 2025, of which 98,200 are Afghan citizens, ranking first among all applicants.

On the other hand, the total number of illegal entries into the EU in 2025 was approximately 178,000, with Afghanistan ranking third among all source countries, second only to Bangladesh and Egypt. Data shows that illegal immigrants from Afghanistan are concentrated in the Eastern Mediterranean, trying to enter the EU through countries such as Greece. (over)