Hannah Neumann, a member of the European Parliament, has warned that any engagement with the Taliban, even if described as “technical cooperation,” could in practice amount to politically normalizing the group without holding it accountable.
Neumann said on Tuesday in a post on X, responding to a report on last month’s meeting between European Union officials and representatives appointed by the Taliban, that “there is no such thing as technical engagement with the Taliban.” She called on the European Commission to provide clarity on the objectives and consequences of such contacts.
Referring to reports about Germany’s plans to deport some Afghanistan nationals who do not have criminal records, Neumann warned that the Taliban have made the provision of consular services a condition for accepting the return of migrants.
According to the European Parliament member, this could pave the way for expanding the Taliban’s role in providing Afghanistan consular services in European countries.
Neumann called on the European Commission to explain who would be returned to Afghanistan, how Afghanistan citizens in Europe would be protected against what she described as “transnational repression,” and what concessions the Taliban would receive in exchange for such cooperation.
Her remarks come as European countries continue to face political challenges over how to engage with the Taliban, particularly on issues related to humanitarian assistance, migration, and the provision of consular services. The Taliban have repeatedly called for recognition of their role in governing Afghanistan, while many countries have refused to formally recognize the group’s rule due to restrictions imposed on the rights of women and girls.
