The EU will try to stop the massive migratory flows from Afghanistan, according to the draft declaration

BRUSSELS, Aug 30 (Reuters) – European Union states are determined to prevent uncontrolled migration from Afghanistan after the country was taken over by the Taliban, a draft statement prepared for a meeting on Tuesday says.

EU governments are eager to avoid a repeat of the chaotic influx of refugees and migrants in 2015 that caught the bloc unprepared and sowed divisions among them, fueling support for far-right parties as they the fields of Greece, Italy, and elsewhere swell.

“Based on the lessons learned, the EU and its Member States are determined to act together to prevent the recurrence of large-scale illegal uncontrolled migratory movements that they have faced in the past, preparing an orderly response and ordered, “interior ministers will say at the meeting, according to the draft statement seen by Reuters.

The position emerged when the UN refugee agency UNHCR warned that up to half a million Afghans could flee their homeland by the end of the year.

Thousands of Afghans have been evacuated on a massive airlift mounted by Western forces following the Taliban capture of the capital Kabul on 15 August. But as the operation ends, many have been left with an uncertain fate under the rule of the harsh Islamist group.

UNHCR called for support on Monday and said “a bigger crisis is just beginning” for Afghanistan’s 39 million people.

Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, reiterated a call for borders to remain open and for more countries to share responsibilities with Iran and Pakistan, which already host 2.2 million Afghans.

“Kabul’s air bridges will end in a matter of days and the tragedy that has unfolded will cease to be so visible. But it will remain a daily reality for millions of Afghans. We must not deviate,” Grandi told a statement.

At Tuesday’s emergency meeting in Brussels, EU ministers will also reiterate the bloc’s promise to give more money to Afghanistan and surrounding countries, although delivering aid has been complicated since that the Taliban took control, EU officials said.

“The EU should also strengthen support for countries in Afghanistan’s immediate neighborhood to ensure that those in need receive adequate protection mainly in the region,” the ministers will say, according to the draft statement.

While Turkey helped contain the 2015 crisis with EU funding by capturing millions of fleeing Syrians, Ankara is less willing to receive many Afghans as the COVID-19 pandemic and economic downturn strain social services and security.

Ministers will also pledge to stop new threats to Afghanistan’s security for EU citizens, according to the bill. It did not contain specific details of new measures.

Meanwhile, the International Rescue Committee said the EU should create a new plan to resettle at least 30,000 Afghans in the region in the next 12 months. The charity estimates that there were already 2.6 million Afghan refugees, mostly welcomed by Iran and Pakistan.

“The EU must defend the right to seek asylum for people fleeing Afghanistan,” the IRC said in a statement. Caritas Europe also called on the EU not to abandon Afghans.

Aside from that, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said he wanted to see how the bloc created a quick-response military force to intervene in future crises and help stabilize fragile democracies abroad.

Reports by Robin Emmott, edited by Sabine Siebold and Angus MacSwan

Our standards: the principles of trust of Thomson Reuters.