The Council of the EU recalled, on Tuesday 21 September, that the EU’s commitment to Afghanistan would depend on the actions of the Afghan government (see EUROPE 12783/1).
“The EU and its Member States’ operational engagement (...) will be carefully calibrated to the policies and actions of the Taliban-appointed caretaker cabinet”, the EU Council underlines, adding that it does not bestow “any legitimacy” on this government. In a coordinated manner, the EU and its Member States will use all available tools to monitor and respond to developments.
According to the EU Council, a minimal presence on the ground would facilitate the monitoring of the humanitarian situation and the delivery of aid, and could coordinate and support the departure of EU citizens, deal with consular issues and manage the free passage of Afghans who could be received in Member States. Speaking to the press on 20 September, the High Representative for the Union, Josep Borrell, said that the EU was continuing to work on such a presence.
The EU Council also said it believes that the Taliban should establish an inclusive and representative government through negotiations. “It is an essential condition for lasting peace and the stabilisation of the country and the region”, he said, expressing concern about the participation in the caretaker cabinet of people sanctioned by the UN Security Council.
Recalling that respect for all human rights, in particular the rights of women and girls, the Rule of law and freedom of expression and the media were benchmarks for the EU’s relations with the Taliban, the EU Council strongly condemned the Taliban’s use of violence and intimidation. “Accountability for human rights violations and abuses and violations of international law must be ensured”, the EU Council warns. It added that EU support would depend on respect for human rights.
The implementation of humanitarian operations in Afghanistan is another condition for relations. “The Taliban must respect the independence of humanitarian operations and guarantee for all humanitarian staff, including all female staff, the safe and unhindered access to the entire territory. Safety of beneficiaries of humanitarian aid must be ascertained and all of them must have free and unhindered access to aid services”, warns the EU Council.
The Taliban must also be prevented from using the country as a base for hosting, financing or exporting terrorism and all efforts must be continued to ensure that they cease any direct or indirect ties with international terrorism.
The EU Council also recalls the need for strong coordination with international partners and considers that the EU should launch, “as a matter of high priority”, a regional political platform for cooperation with Afghanistan’s direct neighbours.
The Foreign Affairs Council will come back to this issue on 18 October.
See the conclusions: https://bit.ly/3hVimRI (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)