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Parliamentary question - E-001330/2022(ASW)Parliamentary question
E-001330/2022(ASW)

Answer given by High Representative/Vice-President Borrell i Fontelles on behalf of the European Commission

The EU has a minimal presence in Kabul for facilitating the delivery of humanitarian and basic needs aid and for following political developments, including on Human Rights.

The EU Delegation liaises with the de facto authorities, Afghan civil society, humanitarian actors, and addresses specific Human Rights violations in close cooperation with United Nations (UN) Agencies. The EU Delegation also supports the departure of EU and Afghan citizens from Afghanistan by providing logistical support, verifying and sharing information.

The EU five benchmarks for Afghanistan were set in September 2021[1] as guiding principles for engagement with the Taliban de facto authorities.

The EU ended development aid to Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover, in the absence of a constitutionally elected government. However, due to the humanitarian crisis and to uphold the EU’s commitment to the Afghan people, the EU is providing humanitarian aid and support for basic needs, without interference from the de facto authorities.

The EU humanitarian aid is channelled through UN agencies, International Organisations and Non-Governmental Organisations, by the Commission.

These partnerships are based on certification and the partners’ professionalism in responding to humanitarian needs and their adherence to agreed rules and standards, the Commission ensures full respect of EU restrictive measures in light of the fundamental humanitarian aid principles of humanity, independence, neutrality and impartiality in all its actions.

The respect of the autonomy from political, economic, military objectives is the basis of any Commission’s intervention. It has also a system in place to monitor partners’ work, though regular field monitoring missions, including in remote areas.

Last updated: 18 May 2022
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