Some 60 MEPs from the S&D, Greens/EFA, The Left, Renew Europe and EPP groups from 14 Member States called on the European Union on Wednesday 25 August to “immediately activate humanitarian corridors” for Afghans who cooperated with Europeans before the Taliban took over.
In a letter to the President of the European Commission, the European Commissioner for Home Affairs and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, these MEPs point out that the EU has the legislative and regulatory basis to set up these corridors: the Temporary Protection Directive (2001/55/EC), which has never been used. They are calling on the Commission to promote this directive and, with the support of willing Member States and relevant European agencies, for a coordinated European programme to address the current emergency situation.
The European Commission should act as a humanitarian broker by bringing together and encouraging Member States to establish comprehensive and effective programmes to protect Afghan refugees, MEPs also stress.
Finally, they call on the Commission to “immediately” open diplomatic discussions with the leaders of the United States and the United Kingdom, in order to find a common approach and implement concrete measures to ensure the protection of Afghans who have substantially supported their work in the country. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)