EU foreign ministers to meet by video to give a ‘first assessment’ on Afghan situation

Refugee children from Afghanistan and Syria entering the plane that will bring them from Greece to Germany as part of a EU relocation program, April 2020

EU High Representative for External Affairs Josep Borrell has announced an extraordinary video conference of EU foreign ministers for tomorrow afternoon (17 August) for a “first assessment” of the latest developments in Afghanistan, writes Catherine Feore.

Since the joint statement by the High Representative and Commissioner Lenarčič of 5 August calling for an urgent, comprehensive and permanent ceasefire “to give peace a chance” and condemning the escalation in violence, in particular the armed attack on the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) office, there has been little in the way of communication from EU leaders and the EU itself. 

European Council President Charles Michel tweeted last night (15 August): “In close contact with EU High Representative and following developments in Afghanistan. Security of EU citizens, staff and their families is priority in short term. Equally clear that many lessons will need to be drawn.”

The European External Action Service published a joint statement today (16 August) led by the US and signed by the “international community” (Albania, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Burkina Faso, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Estonia, The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kosovo, Latvia, Liberia, Lichtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta , Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Montenegro, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, North Macedonia, Norway, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Cyprus, Romania, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Togo, Tonga, Uganda, United Kingdom, Ukraine, and Yemen).

The statement recognizes the deteriorating security situation and states that the signatories are working to secure the safe and orderly departure of foreign nationals and Afghans who wish to leave the country: “Those in positions of power and authority across Afghanistan bear responsibility - and accountability - for the protection of human life and property, and for the immediate restoration of security and civil order [...] The Afghan people deserve to live in safety, security and dignity. We in the international community stand ready to assist them.”

Two EU states, Hungary and Bulgaria, have not signed this statement. 

How will the ‘international community’ work with the Taliban?

On 13 August, NATO issued a statement that it would maintain its diplomatic presence in Kabul and expressed concern about the high levels of violence caused by the Taliban’s offensive, including attacks on civilians, targeted killings, and reports of other serious human rights abuses. In the statement NATO said: “The Taliban need to understand that they will not be recognized by the international community if they take the country by force. We remain committed to supporting a political solution to the conflict.”

Likewise the EU has condemned violations of international humanitarian law and human rights in Taliban-controlled areas, such as arbitrary and extrajudicial killings of civilians, public lashing of women and the destruction of infrastructure. The EU said that some of these acts could amount to war crimes and will have to be investigated with those Taliban fighters or commanders responsible being held accountable.

However, as the Taliban take control of Afghanistan it is hard to see how forces and civilians can safely leave the country without negotiating with the Taliban.

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