Press statement by Gilles Bertrand, EU Special Envoy for Afghanistan, at the end of his visit to Afghanistan 10 – 17 October 2025

1. Today I conclude a six-day visit to Kabul, kindly organised and accompanied by Veronika Bošković-Pohar, the EU’s Chargée d’Affaires in Afghanistan, and her team. It is my first visit to the country as EU Special Envoy, but not my first time in the country: I already served in Afghanistan as a diplomat in the early 2000s. In the course of the visit, I met with several representatives of the de facto Authorities: Deputy Prime Minister for Administrative Affairs Mawlawi Abdul Salam Hanafi, Minister of Economy Alhaj Qari Deen Mohammad Hanif, Minister for Refugees and Repatriation Mawlavi Abdul Kabir, Minister for Information and Culture Shaikh Sher Ahmad Haqqani, as well as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammad Naeem Wardak. I also held exchanges with members of the diplomatic community, representatives of UNAMA and several other UN agencies, Afghan civil society, journalists and businesspersons, including women, and representatives of international non-governmental organisations (INGOs) working in Afghanistan.

2. Many of our interlocutors underlined the progress achieved by the de facto Authorities in enhancing the overall security situation and reducing drastically opium production in the country. The EU recognises achievements in the field of counternarcotics and counterterrorism, particularly against the “Islamic State in Khorasan Province” (ISKP), but still sees with concern the continued presence and cross-border activities of several terrorist groups of regional reach.

3. Tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan flared up during the mission. In my meetings with the de facto Authorities and with the Ambassador of Pakistan, I expressed concern about this situation and I called for de-escalation and restraint, respect of each other’s territorial integrity, protection of civilians, resuming a dialogue on both sides’ security concerns, and adhering to the ceasefire announced yesterday, on Wednesday 15 October.

4. The meetings were also the opportunity to discuss with all my interlocutors the human rights situation in the country and raise with the de facto Authorities our strong concerns regarding the situation of women and girls and the restrictions imposed on most of their social, economic, cultural and civil and political rights. The recent decision to prevent female Afghan employees from working in UN premises in the entire country is another negative signal sent to the international community. I also stressed the EU’s unwavering support to freedom of the press.

5. The de facto Authorities shared appreciation for the support provided by the EU in addressing the humanitarian challenges in the country.  As an expression of its longstanding commitment for the Afghan people, the EU has spent 1.8 billion euros [2.1 billion US dollars / 140 billion Afghanis] since 2021 in humanitarian aid, basic human needs and support for health, private sector development and alternative livelihoods. I informed the de facto Authorities about the recent endorsement by EU member states of an additional support package of 83 million euros [87 million US dollars / 6.5 billion Afghanis], targeting private sector development, expanded access to microfinance, support to sustainable food value chains, job creation, and women’s economic empowerment as well as health and education. Unfortunately, the restrictions imposed on implementing partners impact the efficiency and cost of providing assistance. After more than 4 years of continued and substantial support, it should now be evident that the EU and its implementing partners have the welfare of the Afghan people at heart and these restrictions should be reconsidered.

6. A thriving private sector is key to ensuring employment and prosperity for the people of Afghanistan. Access to finance, especially for small and medium-sized companies, is crucial. I reiterated to the de facto Authorities the importance to ensure, through dialogue with the sector, a practical implementation of regulation to facilitate access to microfinance, also for informal businesses and women-led businesses, and to ensure the independence of private sector associations. Several Ministers reiterated their interest in attracting long-term investment by European companies in all economic sectors. I recalled that the private sector, from the EU and other parts of the world, needs predictability to engage in a country, among others: a transparent legal framework for foreign investment, a credible justice system, and stable and workable social and economic regulations. I raised strong concerns regarding the temporary suspension of all communications throughout the country for 48 hours at the end of September, and its detrimental impact on the economy and on the image of Afghanistan.

7. The return of more than 4 million Afghans from neighbouring countries over the past two years was raised by all my interlocutors as a major challenge and a considerable additional pressure on the already dire socio-economic situation in Afghanistan. UN agencies, INGOs and other partners underlined the strong engagement of the de facto Authorities to welcome Afghan returnees and provide them with basic services, housing and livelihoods opportunities. We informed the de facto Authorities of increased EU support for returnees in 2025, to be implemented by IOM, UNHCR and local and international NGOs, with a focus on supporting sustainable solutions, reintegration, job opportunities and private sector development, as well as basic services in critical sector such as health and education. 

8. I also discussed with UNAMA, the de facto Authorities and members of the diplomatic community the need to move forward with all aspects of the UN comprehensive approach, as outlined in the 2024 report by UN Special Coordinator Feridun Sinirlioğlu (referred to as the Doha Process), including identifying possible mutual first steps which could be agreeable by all. The EU sees a multilateral process as the only way to resolve the international community’s unanimous concerns that Afghanistan should respect its international obligations and take steps towards more inclusivity – and an intra-Afghan dialogue allowing for a longstanding peace in Afghanistan.

9. I seized the opportunity of the visit to underline that the EU’s engagement in Afghanistan is principled, pragmatic, and people-centred. Our intention is to work with all Afghans who share the goal of a peaceful, inclusive and self-reliant Afghanistan. I intend to come back regularly to further engage will all relevant stakeholders.