ISSN 2674-8053

Position of the European Union in relation to Afghanistan

By Giulia Ornellas and Vitor Saatkamp

Afghanistan is a country of great instability, which has been in an ongoing crisis since the Afghan War of 1979. currently, civil conflicts and internal crises are intensifying due to the dictatorship implemented by the Taliban group, what, in mid-august this year, took power and ruled the country again. The radical Islamic regime is violating the human rights of citizens, mainly from the female population.

In 2001, the american government of George W. Bush, together with allies, sent troops to overthrow the extremist regime, and successfully, improved the political situation and economic expectations of the country, although they still face many difficulties from a humanitarian point of view.. With the failures in the plan to withdraw troops from Afghanistan by President Biden, now in 2021, the extremist group ended up regaining power in the country in a slight and unexpected way. In this way, caused the displacement of almost 3,7 millions of people, creating chaos and disorder, not just in Afghanistan itself, but also, in other countries and organizations of the international system, that at this moment, seek ways to welcome the Afghan population.

The European Union is the main focus of refugees from the Middle East, but given the absence of a common migration policy, many member countries have different perceptions of refugee shelter.. According to the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, the EU does not recognize the Taliban regime in Afghanistan and maintains contact with the group only to ensure the safe removal of people. The president also stated that the €1bn incentive set aside by the EU to support Afghanistan will depend on the fulfillment of human rights., mostly women and girls, by the extremist group.

Segundo von der Leyen, all bloc nations that have active missions in Afghanistan must be prepared to receive refugees and the European Commission will provide budget assistance to all contributing countries, considering the resettlement of vulnerable people as a moral duty.

Despite nations like Germany, Denmark and some Baltic countries have agreed to asylum refugees, many are retreating, like France and Greece, for example. Countries fear a new migration crisis, like the one in 2015 after the refuge of thousands of Syrians and other peoples across Europe, that triggered, according to Gazeta do Povo newspaper, the growth of terrorist attacks on European soil in recent years and has caused governments to increase their immigration controls to ensure the protection of the European population.

Another point defended by countries like Germany and Denmark, is that Afghans should not migrate to Europe, but yes, stay close to their homes and cultures. "The role of European countries would be to ensure that international organizations are funded and able to help people in need of protection", said Danish minister Mattias Tesfaye, alongside the Austrian and Czech representatives, who demonstrated the same conviction.

For this reason, the EU counts on the neighboring countries of Afghanistan, like Pakistan and Tajikistan, to welcome refugees, quadrupling humanitarian aid to these countries with the aim of deflecting migratory pressure in Europe. the french president, Emmanuel Macron, was emphatic about the US exit from Afghanistan: “Europe cannot bear the consequences alone”.

In view of the conflicting situation that Afghanistan finds itself in, it is very important that countries that have the resources and are willing to help and that are able to mobilize themselves to come together and alleviate the chaos that has been taking lives and tearing families apart. At this moment, despite the EU being the main escape destination for refugees, it is an ethical responsibility of all nations to assist with evacuations and installations., and so, in order to avoid greater tragedies.

double fix: Karen e Laura

References

Afghanistan's migratory flow divides the European Union, Euronews, 2021 Available in: https://pt.euronews.com/2021/08/20/o-fluxo-migratorio-do-afeganistao-divide-a-uniao-europeia

European Union claims not to recognize Taliban regime in Afghanistan: Block maintains contact with members of the Islamic group only to ensure the safe removal of people, says president of the european commission. Countries start to receive refugees. DW, 2021 Available in: https://www.dw.com/pt-br/uni%C3%A3o-europeia-afirma-n%C3%A3o-reconhecer-regime-do-talib%C3%A3-no-afeganist%C3%A3o/a-58946766 

Safe, Rafael, European countries resist taking in Afghan refugees: how discourse changed after the Syrian crisis, People's Gazette, 2021 Available in: https://www.gazetadopovo.com.br/mundo/paises-europeus-resistem-em-acolher-refugiados-afegaos-como-discurso-mudou-apos-a-crise-siria/

European Union wants support from Afghanistan's neighbors to protect itself from migratory wave: The European Union (EU) wants to count on the neighboring countries of Afghanistan to welcome people who leave the country fleeing from the Taliban. (…) RFI, 2021 Available in:https://www.rfi.fr/br/europa/20210831-uni%C3%A3o-europeia-quer-apoio-de-vizinhos-do-afeganist%C3%A3o-para-se-proteger-de-onda-migrat%C3%B3ria

Center for European Studies and Business
The European Studies and Business Center (NENE) is linked to the Brazilian Center for International Business Studies & Corporate Diplomacy (CBENI) from ESPM-SP. It was created considering the need to stimulate the Brazilian and Latin American academic community to better understand their relations with Europeans, seeking to understand and deepen the Brazil-European Union Strategic Partnership.