Iratxe García Pérez, leader of the Socialists in the European Parliament, has criticised the invitation of Taliban officials to a meeting in Brussels aimed at discussing the deportation of Afghan migrants, saying: “Afghans should not pay the price for the actions of the Taliban.” Speaking during a session of the European Parliament, García said Europe must do everything possible to prevent a return to what she described as the Taliban’s dark era and to protect women’s rights. Criticising the Taliban’s treatment of women, she added: “The same Taliban who deny girls access to education, confine women to their homes and consider a woman to be worth less than an animal have now been invited to Brussels.” She warned that Europe could not become a “deportation machine” that negotiates with “executioners” while simultaneously speaking of its values, adding that doing so would amount to a betrayal of the European Union’s principles. The criticism comes as the European Commission confirmed the invitation of Taliban representatives and said the proposed meeting in Brussels would be “technical” in nature. According to the Commission, it would be coordinated with 20 EU member states and Schengen countries to discuss the return of Afghan migrants. Reuters-style note: The report reflects statements made by political figures and institutions. The status, scope and final arrangements of the proposed Brussels meeting were not independently verified in the provided information.
