BRUSSELS — Speaking at the Senior Officials Meeting on Afghanistan, European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib emphasized the EU’s continued commitment to the Afghan people, warning against allowing the Taliban’s repression to deter international support.
“In this darkness, our support is a ray of hope,” Lahbib told officials gathered in Brussels. “We must never let Taliban repression become an excuse to walk away. On the contrary, it is exactly why we must stay and keep delivering.”
She called for a coordinated, multilateral approach to Afghanistan, stressing the importance of inclusive governance and engagement with the Taliban. “The only way to achieve that is with a united, multilateral approach, working towards inclusive governance and through engagement with the Taliban,” she said.
“The European Union is present in Afghanistan. We are committed to supporting the Afghan people in their hopes for a stable, secure, and inclusive society, where every citizen, no matter their gender, religion or ethnicity, enjoys equal rights and opportunities,” she added.
Lahbib reiterated that political and humanitarian diplomacy must go hand in hand. “We need diplomatic engagement with the Taliban de facto authorities, especially when they are systematically erasing the rights of half of their population,” she said. “We continue to call on the Taliban to reverse any ban that strips women and girls of their basic rights. At the same time, this engagement is vital to delivering aid and securing access to those who need it most.”
She said all EU aid to Afghanistan follows one guiding principle: “by women, for women.” That, she added, means “every euro of our support will be designed, delivered, and monitored with Afghan women and with a special focus on women and girls as beneficiaries.”
Turning to the issue of forced displacement, Lahbib said the EU is “deeply alarmed” by the mass expulsions of Afghans from Pakistan and Iran. “The speed and scale of these expulsions raise serious humanitarian and human rights concerns. Forced returns can have devastating consequences for those affected and risk further destabilising Afghanistan and the region.”
She added, “We must use the political channels to keep insisting on any returns to be safe, voluntary, and dignified. This includes stepping up our support for those forced to leave everything behind.”
Lahbib stressed the broader strategic importance of stability in Afghanistan. “European security and stability are closely linked to the security and stability of Afghanistan,” she said.
She reaffirmed that the EU’s aid would continue to prioritize women and girls. “All EU aid will continue to follow one guiding principle: by women, for women,” she said. “That means every euro of our support will be designed, delivered, and monitored with Afghan women and with a special focus on women and girls as beneficiaries.”
On regional displacement, she repeated her concerns: “The speed and scale of these expulsions raise serious humanitarian and human rights concerns… We must use the political channels to keep insisting on any returns to be safe, voluntary, and dignified.”
She also outlined the EU’s funding commitments. “This year, the EU will provide €161 million in humanitarian aid,” she said, “an additional €100 million in development assistance… a total €261 million package… a true nexus approach in action.”
Lahbib said the EU’s approach includes support not only for survival, but for self-sufficiency and growth. “We need long-term, sustainable solutions,” she said. “The best support we can offer is opportunity and empowerment, creating jobs and building social and climate resilience because stronger societies lead to greater stability.”
The two-day summit in Brussels has drawn officials from the European Union, the United States, United Nations agencies, and regional stakeholders to coordinate responses to Afghanistan’s ongoing humanitarian, political, and human rights crises.