BRUSSELS — A high-level international meeting focused on Afghanistan is set to take place in Brussels on June 16 and 17, according to sources familiar with the planning. The gathering, known as the Senior Officials Meeting, is being convened by the European Union and will address the country’s political crisis, humanitarian emergency, and economic instability.
The meeting will bring together representatives from EU member states, international organizations such as the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), UN Women, and the International Organization for Migration, as well as members of Afghan civil society and the diaspora. A Qatari envoy is also expected to attend, continuing Doha’s quiet diplomatic engagement in Afghan affairs.
Sources said that while the Taliban are not expected to be officially represented, discussions will likely touch on the de facto authorities’ human rights record, including ongoing restrictions on women’s rights and political participation.
In its previous iteration in September 2023, the Brussels-hosted forum focused on the ban on women’s employment, Afghanistan’s worsening humanitarian crisis, and the economic outlook under Taliban rule. That session, along with a follow-up in June 2024, resulted in international pledges exceeding $840 million in aid.
This year’s meeting comes amid urgent concerns over diminishing humanitarian funds for Afghanistan. The United Nations has warned of severe budget shortfalls affecting life-saving programs, even as Afghanistan remains the site of the second-worst humanitarian crisis globally, according to UN assessments.
The Senior Officials Meeting is expected to reassess donor strategies in light of these shortfalls, as well as debate longer-term engagement frameworks for Afghanistan’s future.
UNAMA, a regular participant in the forum, is currently advancing a diplomatic framework known as the “Mosaic” plan—a political roadmap that includes potential diplomatic recognition of the Taliban and sanctions relief. The proposal has sparked internal and external criticism, with some stakeholders warning that it risks normalizing a regime accused of widespread human rights abuses.
The European Union has remained one of the strongest critics of Taliban policies, particularly their treatment of women and girls. Several member states have urged that any engagement with the Taliban be conditioned on measurable improvements in human rights, inclusive governance, and freedom of expression.
