Mr. President,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

The Candidate Countries North Macedonia^*, Montenegro^*, Serbia^*, Albania^*, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina^* and Georgia, and the EFTA country Iceland, member of the European Economic Area, as well as Andorra and San Marino align themselves with this statement.

Let me start by reaffirming the EU’s commitment to the people of Afghanistan and our determination to support a peaceful, stable, and prosperous future for the country. The recent Senior Officials Meeting on Afghanistan, convened by the EU in Brussels, demonstrated our continued engagement and coordination with international partners.

The situation in Afghanistan is extremely challenging, with deepening human rights concerns, especially the massive violation of the rights of women and girls, which may amount to gender persecution, as well as those of minorities, the erosion of civic space, widespread displacement, and limited access to essential services, food insecurity, and immense humanitarian needs.

In particular, the EU is deeply concerned about the impact of the so-called morality law (PVPV law) adopted in 2024, which represents a further assault on the rights and freedoms of all Afghan women and girls. We unequivocally condemn the continued denial of the right to education for all, freedom of expression, movement and work, and the severe limitation of their participation in all spheres of society and public life. We are particularly concerned about the recent harassment and threats against female UN personnel in Kabul. The perpetrators of these acts must be held accountable.

The EU urges the Taliban to repeal all laws restricting human rights, including the so-called PVPV law, and to uphold Afghanistan’s international human rights obligations. The Taliban, as the de facto rulers, bear full political and moral responsibility to respect, protect, and fulfil the rights of all Afghans, without discrimination. We expect the Taliban to take concrete steps to ensure inclusive governance and respect for human rights, and call for the full implementation of UN Security Council resolution 2593.

The EU welcomes the efforts of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Afghanistan. Their efforts are essential in documenting violations, advocating for accountability, and promoting a rights-based path to peace and stability.

We emphasize the importance of continued support by the international community, and a principled, coherent and structured multilateral approach in working towards a viable future for Afghanistan, not least to prevent it from becoming a safe haven for terrorism or a source of further displacement and irregular migration. We reiterate our support for the UN-led Doha Process, which remains the only multilateral framework for promoting an inclusive political settlement. The EU welcomes the efforts for developing a Comprehensive Approach, but we reiterate the necessity to ensure that this process is inclusive and benefits all Afghan people, in line with the recommendations of the UN Special Coordinator’s Independent Assessment.

The EU also calls for the appointment of a UN Special Envoy for Afghanistan, in line with UNSC resolution 2721, to facilitate international coordination, promote a peaceful resolution to the conflict, and support the implementation of the Comprehensive Approach roadmap. 

The EU calls for governance structures that reflect the diversity of Afghanistan’s society, and ensure the full participation of women and girls, as well as ethnic and religious minorities. The EU will continue to engage with wider and representative communities of Afghans, including through the Afghan Women Leaders’ Forum, to ensure that the voices of all Afghans are heard and respected.

The EU is deeply concerned about the security situation and the threat posed by the remaining presence of terrorist groups, including Al-Qaeda and ISKP. We urge the Taliban to take concrete steps to sever all ties with these and other international terrorist organisations, and to prevent the use of Afghan territory for hosting, financing, or exporting terrorism to other countries.

In response to the deteriorating humanitarian and economic situation, the EU remains committed to providing support to the Afghan people. We have committed 1.8 billion EUR since August 2021 to humanitarian aid, basic services, and livelihoods support. Our assistance is directed to the Afghan people and is guided by the principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence.

In conclusion, the EU remains committed to supporting the people of Afghanistan and promoting a peaceful, stable, and prosperous future for the country in coordination with international partners. The resolution before us today reflects our shared responsibility and provides a basis for continuing a constructive dialogue on the way ahead.

* North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.