EU home affairs Brunner branded ‘completely lost’ in secret Brussels meeting on Taliban deportations

The centre-right European People’s Party (EPP) demanded Brussels discussions on the Taliban be held behind closed doors, according to multiple sources.

The meeting, held in-camera (behind closed doors) in Brussels on Tuesday (14 July), included a back-and-forth between European lawmakers and Magnus Brunner, the EU commissioner for home affairs.

That secrecy and lack of public access highlight the political sensitivity over an issue that sees the Taliban gain more prominence in a Europe determined to deport as many people as possible back to Afghanistan.

“The EPP put this condition that it would be an in-camera meeting,” said one source, who asked not to be named. The EPP was approached for comment but has not responded as of publication.

Only two advisors from each of the political groups were allowed to attend, along with the MEPs, said a second source.

Secrecy aside, the discussions centred around recent efforts by the European Commission and most EU states to indirectly normalise relations with the Taliban, in exchange for forced deportations of people convicted of crimes.

Although primarily targeting people convicted of crimes, some lawmakers are saying the true intention is to deport as many Afghans as possible, citing a letter sent by EU member states last October.

"Priority should be given to the return of persons posing a threat to public order or national security," said the letter, suggesting other non-convicted Afghans may also be returned later on.

The commission, along with over a dozen EU states, had last month hosted a Taliban delegation for one day in Brussels, in the hopes of stepping up deportations.

Brunner was pressed to explain commission's role and how fundamental rights are supposed to be monitored of those sent back to the country.

"The commissioner seemed completely lost," said an EU source, noting he had no real understanding of Afghanistan and was unable to cite any NGO on the ground that would monitor rights.

Given it was in-camera, the commission declined to comment on the content of the discussions.