English · livello B2. Leggi il testo in inglese e allena la comprensione. Il video con audio e sottotitoli sincronizzati è in arrivo sul canale YouTube.
The European Union has begun a historic shift in its migration policy. The European Commission and representatives of fifteen member states have met in Brussels with an official delegation of the Taliban regime to negotiate the deportation of Afghan citizens. This is the first formal visit of the Taliban to European institutions since they returned to power in Kabul in 2021.
Among the participating countries are Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, and the Netherlands, among others. Spain, according to diplomatic sources, did not attend the meeting, nor did it sign the October letter in which twenty states asked to explore ways of forced return to Afghanistan.
The meeting symbolises the hardening of European migration policy. Although the Commission insisted that the discussions were purely technical, the Taliban claimed that consular issues were addressed — which constitutes an implicit recognition of the Kabul regime.
Human rights organisations and left-wing groups have condemned the meeting. They warn that the initiative may legitimise a regime accused of systematic violations of human rights, particularly against women and girls, subjected to what the UN has defined as a system of "gender apartheid".
Deportation — forced expulsion from a country. Repatriation — return to one's country of origin. Gender apartheid — systematic separation by sex. Legitimise — give legal or acceptable status to something. Forced return — sending someone back without their consent.
Why is the meeting controversial from a human rights perspective? Should Europe engage in dialogue with authoritarian regimes to manage migration?
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