Humanitarian urgency in Afghanistan highlighted by Commissioner Hadja Lahbib In a recent speech delivered at the Senior Officials Meeting on Afghanistan, European Commissioner Hadja Lahbib underscored the dire humanitarian crisis gripping Afghanistan, where nearly 23 million people require urgent aid. Lahbib condemned the mass forced returns of Afghans from neighbouring Pakistan and Iran as destabilising and urged for safe, voluntary, and dignified repatriations. She stressed that despite Taliban repression, the EU must persist in delivering aid and political engagement.
Concrete EU aid proposals and policy orientation Commissioner Lahbib laid out specific policy proposals, including a substantial financial commitment amounting to €261 million for 2025. This package combines €161 million in humanitarian aid with an additional €100 million in development assistance aimed at livelihoods, resilience, and economic recovery. The EU’s approach prioritises a "nexus" strategy, integrating political engagement, humanitarian support, and development aid to address immediate suffering and foster long-term stability.
Focus on women’s empowerment amid Taliban restrictions A distinctive policy dimension is the emphasis on supporting Afghan women and girls, whose rights have been severely curtailed under Taliban governance. The EU’s aid is explicitly "by women, for women," ensuring that funding decisions include Afghan women’s voices and that projects prioritize their empowerment. The forthcoming Afghanistan Gender Index, a joint EU and UN Women initiative, will provide critical data monitoring the impact of Taliban policies on women.
Stakeholders’ perspectives and cleavage analysis The policy shifts reinforce EU involvement and multilateral engagement, navigating the cleavage between maintaining diplomatic relations with Taliban authorities and upholding human rights, especially for women. For Afghan civil society, particularly women’s groups, the proposal presents increased opportunities for empowerment and visibility. Economic sectors in Afghanistan may benefit moderately from development aid fostering livelihoods and job creation. Conversely, the Taliban regime may see this as pressure and a loss of unrestricted control. Meanwhile, donor countries and EU taxpayers face a financial commitment with an expectation of political and humanitarian returns.
Balancing short-term humanitarian relief and long-term development objectives, Lahbib's speech puts forward a nuanced EU stance that supports Afghan society inclusively while engaging with challenging political realities.
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