Date:
During today’s plenary debate on the situation in Afghanistan, the Renew Europe Group in the European Parliament expressed its concerns about the unfolding humanitarian, economic and migration crisis in the country, which needs a stable and inclusive government that respects fundamental human rights in order to be able to end the free fall of the country’s devastated economy.
In a resolution to be voted on Thursday, we call on the EU to continue to support all democratic forces and civil society activists, many of whom are now in exile, so that they can continue to work to preserve the achievements of the last 20 years. The EU and its Member States must work together to facilitate the further evacuation of EU citizens and Afghans at risk and to make sure that humanitarian assistance to Afghan civilians in need is channelled through relevant international organisations and NGOs.
Renew Europe MEP, Petras Auštrevičius (Lithuanian Liberal Movement), Chair of the Delegation for relations with Afghanistan, urges the Council, the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the Commission to prepare and present to Parliament, as soon as possible, a comprehensive strategy for future engagement with Afghanistan and the surrounding regional countries:
“Today, our strategy for Afghanistan is to protect Afghans and to sustain our joint achievements. We have to secure the lives of Afghan change-makers and civil activists, and to save millions facing poverty and famine. We must demand the Taliban ensures basic rights, in particular of women and girls, and we need to build solidarity among the Member States to welcome the Afghan asylum seekers.”