With an urgent question to the Vice President of the European Commission and High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borell, SYRIZA MEP Stelios Kouloglou raises the issue of the reception of Afghan refugees after the ascendancy of the Taliban regime.
Noting that the withdrawal of US troops and the return of the Taliban will provoke new refugees in the European Union, Stelios Kouloglou also noted the EU’s political responsibility for the developments, as it has actively supported the US and Afghan governments since 2001. In his question Mr Kouloglou asks what measures the Union plans to take for the smooth reception but also for the fair and proportionate distribution of refugees among member states.
He also asks to be informed what the EU intends to do for those Member States which, despite the latest developments, insist on their policy of rejecting asylum applications from Afghan refugees. Stelios Kouloglou, moreover, after pointing out that the Taliban regime will dramatically restrict the rights of minorities and especially women, asks if the Union intends, and in what way, to come to terms with the new regime in order to ensure respect for individual freedoms and women’s rights.
The Question in full:
To: Commission Vice President and High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell
Subject: Planning and proportional distribution for the new wave of refugees from Afghanistan
Withdrawal of US troops and their allies from Afghanistan, is expected to provoke a new large wave of refugees destined for Europe, which will mainly burden first-host / point of entry countries.
EU statutes require these people to be treated in accordance with international refugee law.
The Taliban regime is expected to further restrict the rights of minorities, especially women.
Given that the EU as a whole, as well as the Member States, have actively supported the US and Afghan governments since 2001 and therefore have a political and moral responsibility for current developments,
the High Representative is asked:
– What steps does the Commission plan to take to ensure the smooth reception, proportionate and fair distribution of refugees in the Member States?
-How does it intend to deal with the decision of Member States, which reject the applications of Afghan refugees seeking asylum?
– How does it intend to come to terms with the new regime in Afghanistan in order to ensure respect for individual freedoms and especially the rights of women?
