EU plans talks with Taliban to deport irregular Afghan migrants

A Taliban delegation is expected to meet with European officials in Brussels to discuss the deportation of Afghans with no right to remain in the EU in a wider push against irregular migration.

Euractiv issued a report which said that the meeting follows two trips by the European Commission and representatives from other member states to discuss the issue of illegal migration from Afghanistan.

The Commission confirmed that preparatory discussions concerning deportations were held earlier this year with the Taliban, Afghanistan’s de facto authorities, with a January visit to Kabul laying the foundations for a follow-up meeting taking place before the summer.

Three EU officials said that in an effort to avoid any perception of formal recognition of the Taliban government, the talks will reportedly remain strictly technical in nature, focusing on cooperation mechanisms, including the identification of Afghan nationals and the issuance of travel documents.

In October, Belgian Migration Minister Van Bossuyt led an initiative backed by 19 member states to urge stronger EU coordination on the deportation of irregular and criminal Afghan nationals who lack the legal right to remain in the bloc.

Around 20 member states exploring the deportation of Afghans, particularly those with a criminal history, with Germany and Austria both already starting the process of deporting Afghans.

EU countries have received around a million asylum applications filed by Afghans since 2013, with Afghans representing the largest group of asylum seekers in 2025.

Souring public opinion on migration has led to right-wing electoral gains across the EU, leading to a recently implemented Migration and Asylum Pact, expected to reach it's final phase in June.

The EU has seen deportation rates as low as 20% since 2023, enabling most rejected asylum seekers to remain in the bloc unnoticed.