President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen has emphasized that the EU is not conducting political negotiations with the Taliban since they seized power in Afghanistan.
She said this during a visit to a reception center in Madrid for Afghan workers of EU institutions evacuated from Kabul, El Pais reported.
“We are operational contacts with the Taliban. We have to discuss how to make it easier for people in Kabul to get to the airport. There are no political negotiations with the Taliban, no recognition, only operational contacts,” von der Leyen said.
The European Commission president said she would propose an increase of 57 million euros in humanitarian aid, which the commission has allocated this year for Afghanistan.
She said EU development aid is linked to respect for human rights, good treatment of minorities, and respect for the rights of women and girls.
“We may well hear the words of the Taliban, but we will judge them first and foremost by their actions and deeds,” von der Leyen said.
She said the commission is ready to provide funding to EU countries that help resettle refugees, and she plans to raise the resettlement issue at next week’s G7 meeting.
