C 117/140
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
11.3.2022
Thursday 16 September 2021
The EU must develop a response to a potential migration and refugee crisis 37.
Stresses the fundamental right of Afghans to seek safety; urges all steps to be taken to resume coordinated evacuations from the country under the auspices of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), notably through the creation of safe corridors and the permanent reopening of Kabul International Airport and Afghanistan’s land borders; calls for specific support for women, girls and people at risk wanting to leave the country, in order to ensure safe routes; 38.
Stresses that the largest proportion of Afghan refugees will seek protection in neighbouring countries first and foremost, and that the EU should therefore plan to provide additional support to Afghanistan’s neighbouring refugee-hosting countries, preferably via the UN and its agencies, as well as international organisations on the ground; 39.
Recalls that financial, logistical and capacity-building support for the reception of Afghan refugees and migrants in neighbouring countries is not an alternative to a fully-fledged European asylum and migration policy; believes that the EU must urgently conclude and implement its New Pact on Asylum and Migration so as to be able to deal with migration flows in a more effective and humane manner; 40.
Calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure a coordinated European effort to pursue a humane asylum policy in which the EU shoulders its moral responsibility in reception and integration in full compliance with the 1951 Geneva Convention; welcomes the planned September Resettlement Forum; stresses that the EU’s policy should include, as a matter of priority, an expansion of resettlement for those who are most at risk and most vulnerable, as well as further complementary pathways, such as humanitarian visas and a special visa programme for Afghan women seeking protection from the Taliban regime; urges the Member States to reassess current and recent asylum applications, including rejected applications, in the light of recent developments; underlines that there must be no forced returns to Afghanistan under any circumstances; 41.
Calls on the Council to utilise available tools such as the Temporary Protection Directive (3) and Civil Protection Mechanism to maximise efforts across the EU to ensure better coordination among Member States and immediate access to protection; reiterates its call on the Commission to publish a legislative proposal for humanitarian visas and calls for equal responsibility-sharing among the Member States; 42.
Calls for enhanced cooperation and support for non-EU countries to help them to combat criminal networks that engage in migrant smuggling and human trafficking; calls on Europol to provide criminal risk analysis and enhanced cooperation with third countries in the broader context of the developments in Afghanistan; 43.
Calls on the Commission to reflect this resolution in the programming of the NDICI-Global Europe instrument and the preparation of the relevant multiannual indicative programmes;
More cooperation needed with countries in the region around Afghanistan, while upholding fundamental human rights and the rule of law 44.
Recognises that the current situation in Afghanistan is not conducive to regional stability; underscores that the West’s withdrawal from Afghanistan has created a void that is resulting in increased instability; highlights that more responsibility now lies with neighbouring and regional powers for the situation in Afghanistan, which need to prevent any outpour of instability beyond the borders of the country; reaffirms the need for the EU to strengthen cooperation with Central Asian countries in this regard, in particular Uzbekistan, with which the EU is currently negotiating an Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, as well as Tajikistan; stresses that this cooperation should not undermine the EU’s defence of fundamental values and the rule of law; 45.
Expresses its concern about the safety of Afghan nationals at high risk and those crossing to neighbouring countries over land borders, in particular to Pakistan; regrets the lack of coordination by the international community in this respect and urges the Member States to exploit all possible diplomatic leverage and tools to ensure access to land borders, safe passage and access to diplomatic facilities; stresses the critical coordination role of EU delegations in neighbouring countries in providing practical support in this regard;
(3)
Council Directive 2001/55/EC of 20 July 2001 on minimum standards for giving temporary protection in the event of a mass influx of displaced persons and on measures promoting a balance of efforts between Member States in receiving such persons and bearing the consequences thereof (OJ L 212, 7.8.2001, p. 12).