EU ministers outline conditions for relations with Taliban

Following the Afghan government's collapse last month, the 27-nation bloc and its member countries have evacuated their diplomats from Afghanistan. But EU officials have said they are willing to cooperate with the Taliban now that they have returned to power. 

The EU is focusing on delivering humanitarian aid, guaranteeing the safe passage out of the country of Afghan collaborators and employees who were left behind during the airlifts from Kabul, and trying to prevent a mass exodus of refugees that could prompt another migration crisis in Europe. 

Following meetings with European foreign affairs ministers in Slovenia, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said that to gauge the Taliban's good will, the bloc would use several benchmarks. 

They include a guarantee that Afghanistan won't become a base for “the export of terrorism to other countries," a commitment to free access for humanitarian aid deliveries, and adhering to standards in the areas of human rights, rule of law and press freedom. 

“What is clear is that the future of Afghanistan remains a key issue for us,” Borrell said. “It affects us, it affects the region, the international stability, and it has a direct impact for European security.” 

“At the same time, the ministers strongly insisted on the idea that we remain committed to supporting the Afghan population,” he said. 

Borrell stressed that the EU also wants to see an inclusive transition government formed in Afghanistan and the Taliban to honour their pledge to let foreigners and those who fear for their lives leave the country. 

“Our engagement will depend on the fulfilment of these conditions," Borrell said. 

The EU has suspended development assistance to the Afghan government but has pledged about 1.2 billion euros ($1.4 billion) for the country for 2021-2024. 

To ensure the evacuation of EU nationals and Afghan staff under the protection of member states and to assess how the Taliban respect the bloc's conditions, Borrell said that ministers agreed to establish a “joint European Union presence" in Kabul, if security conditions are met. 

Foreign affairs ministers also acknowledged the need to coordinate with Afghanistan's neighbours through an EU regional political platform of cooperation aimed at stabilising the whole region. 

“This political platform will consider, among other issues, the management of population flows from Afghanistan; the prevention of the spread of terrorism; the fight against organised crime, including drug trafficking and human being smuggling," Borrell said. 

Slovenian Foreign Minister Anze Logar, whose country currently holds the EU's rotating presidency, said such cooperation will try “to stop any future migration flows” to the bloc.