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Council of the EU: Draft statement on the situation in Afghanistan

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Country/Region

31 August 2021

Statement due to be adopted by the Justice and Home Affairs Council today.

The document, due to be adopted at an extraordinary Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting today, puts heavy emphasis on preventing the movement of people towards Europe, and encouraging countries neighbouring Afghanistan to maintain their role in hosting refugees and displaced persons.

It also underlines the need for concerted action to prevent the Taliban's takeover leading to new security threats - the country should "not become once again a sanctuary for terrorists and organised crime groups."

The most recent version (REV 3) states (emphasis added):

"3. As an immediate priority, the EU will continue to coordinate with international partners, in particular the UN and its agencies, on the stabilization of the region and to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches the vulnerable populations, in particular women and children, in Afghanistan and in neighbouring countries. To this end, the EU and its Member States will step up financial support to relevant international organisations.

4. The EU will engage and strengthen its support to third countries, in particular the neighbouring and transit countries, hosting large numbers of migrants and refugees, to reinforce their capacities to provide protection, dignified and safe reception conditions and sustainable livelihood for refugees and host communities. The EU will also cooperate with those countries to prevent illegal migration from the region, reinforce border management capacity and prevent smuggling of migrants and trafficking in human beings. To this effect, the mandates of EU agencies should be used to their full extent. In particular, the European Asylum Support Office should step up its external operations for asylum capacity building. Furthermore, as part of global efforts, support could be provided in the form of resettlement on a voluntary basis, prioritising vulnerable persons, such as women and children.

5. The Action Plan on Afghanistan should be prioritised and revised in light of this statement and changed circumstances to make it more operational..."

A draft version of the action plan can be found here.

The document continues (emphasis added):

"6. Based on lessons learned, the EU and its Member States stand determined to act jointly to prevent the recurrence of uncontrolled large-scale illegal migration movements faced in the past, by preparing a coordinated and orderly response. Incentives to illegal migration should be avoided. The EU should also strengthen the support to the countries in Afghanistan’s immediate neighbourhood to ensure that those in need receive adequate protection primarily in the region. The need for unified and coordinated external but also internal communication is key. Targeted information campaigns should be launched to combat the narratives used by smugglers, including in the on-line environment, which encourage people to embark on dangerous and illegal journeys towards Europe."

The document also touches on terrorism:

"...All efforts must be pursued to ensure that the Taliban regime ceases all ties and practices with international terrorism and that Afghanistan does not become once again a sanctuary for terrorists and organised crime groups. The EU will use all its available tools to closely monitor and respond to developments on the ground that might impact its security, in particular in the area of organised crime and terrorism, including its financing. Europol will provide an analysis of the criminal risks linked to the situation in Afghanistan. Exchange of information and intelligence, in line with national competences, also with third countries, and the sharing of regular threat assessments, are of utmost importance. The timely performance of security checks of persons being evacuated from Afghanistan remains crucial."

See:

• NOTE from: Presidency to: Delegations: Draft statement on the situation in Afghanistan (11374/3/21 REV 3, LIMITE, 30 August 2021, pdf)
• Second revised version: 11374/2/21 REV 2 (28 August 2021, pdf)
• Initial version (11374/21, 25 August 2021, pdf)