Dutch liberal Member of the European Parliament Raquel GarcĂa Hermida-van der Walle strongly criticized the European Commission during the debate. According to her, the Commission undermines its own moral credibility by holding talks with a regime held responsible for violence and severe repression of the population.
Legitimacy
The parliament wants the European Union to distance itself from any form of recognition or normalization of the Taliban. The plan to invite a Taliban delegation to Brussels for technical talks is also meeting resistance. Critics argue that such meetings could grant the regime international legitimacy.
The European Commission emphasizes that these are only technical discussions. The meetings are to focus on return procedures for Afghan citizens without residence rights in Europe. According to the Commission, these talks do not imply political recognition of the Taliban.
Promotion
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Opponents within the parliament find this explanation inadequate. They argue that migration policy must not lead to cooperation with a regime that further restricts women's rights and legalizes corporal punishments. Moreover, they contend that discussions with the Taliban do not solve migration problems.
In addition to criticism of the Taliban, parliamentarians called attention to humanitarian aid for the Afghan population. Specific emphasis was placed on support for women’s rights activists, journalists, lawyers, judges, and organizations led by women.
Contradiction
The debate between EU bodies and institutions exposes the tensions between European migration policy and the desire to prioritize human rights. While the European Commission seeks practical agreements on the return of rejected Afghan immigrants, resistance is growing in the European Parliament against any direct consultation with the Taliban.
On Wednesday last week, European officials, diplomats, and MEPs failed to agree on the date when the new European asylum policy should come into effect. The intention was that this would be the last round of talks on implementing the return policy by June 1, a controversial revision of the EU expulsion rules.
Expulsions
The new regulation is seen as the missing pillar of the EU migration pact, which would allow EU countries to transfer rejected asylum seekers and irregular migrants to 'return centers' outside the EU. This would also apply to families with (young) children. Several EU countries say they need more time to implement the new regulation.
Differences of opinion remain, and before a final agreement can be reached, negotiators will need to find a way to compromise on some of the most politically sensitive parts of the legislation in the coming week.