EU plans cash handout to Afghanistan’s neighbours to keep refugee crisis at bay

EU countries have pledged to dish out funds to Afghanistan’s neighbours to host refugees but stopped short of making commitments on resettlement of asylum seekers.

Home affairs ministers meeting in Brussels placed emphasis on security issues and insisting on averting a refugee crisis at EU borders.

In a joint communication after the extraordinary meeting, ministers called for assistance to be given in the region after the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan triggered an exodus.

Ministers asked the European Commission to provide financial assistance to Afghanistan’s neighbours. They also called for funding to be channelled towards international organisations to ensure that humanitarian assistance reaches those in need.

The adopted text pledges financial support to “relevant international organizations” and neighbouring countries of Afghanistan “to reinforce their capacities to provide protection, dignified and safe reception conditions and sustainable livelihood for refugees.”

However, the amount of funding was not specified with sources close to the talks suggesting this could reach €1 billion.

Wary of the 2015 refugee crisis triggered by the conflict in Syria, which caused internal bickering, ministers stopped short of making commitments on resettlement of Afghan asylum seekers. The discussion was pushed forward to another time with some countries saying they did not want it to act as a pull factor.

Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri reiterated Malta’s pledge to take in a family of three Afghan refugees, who require protection overseas after the Taliban takeover.

Camilleri is quoted in a government statement telling his counterparts that despite facing its own migration challenges, Malta has offered to do its part.

Luxembourg appears to have objected to the adopted text since it wanted reference to be made to resettlement for Afghan refugees requiring asylum.

The objection was later dropped when EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson pledged to convene a meeting of the High Level Resettlement Forum next month to discuss potential resettlement for the most vulnerable Afghans.

The forum is an effort by the EU to relocate asylum seekers in need to safe countries, in cooperation with allies like the US and Canada as well as the UN.