The European Union hopes for the United Nations in Afghanistan

Through the United Nations and neighboring countries, refugees and vulnerable people in Afghanistan will continue to receive assistance from the European Union. He promised this in a joint statement after the extraordinary meeting of the Minister of Interior and Immigration on Tuesday in Brussels.

The part of the United Nations was heavily emphasized by Sweden, among other countries.

– The most important point for us was getting requests for increased support for the United Nations organizations, because it is they who now need increased resources to be able to deal with the difficult situation that exists, both in Afghanistan and in the neighboring region. , says Attorney General and Immigration Minister Morgan Johansson (S) on their way out of the meeting.

‘The United Nations is here to stay’

The European Union Internal Commissioner, Ylva Johansson, also emphasized the heavy role of the United Nations. I came to the Brussels meeting directly from the discussions in New York with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

The best way to avoid a migration crisis is to avoid a humanitarian crisis. That is why we must support the Afghans in Afghanistan. The United Nations is still in place. They have people and we can help and support them, she said at the press conference after Tuesday’s meeting in Brussels.

She also promised to hold a new meeting soon to discuss how EU countries will be able to take in more refugees from Afghanistan.

– I will invite you to a new refugee quota meeting with both Member States and other countries, because here it is important that we work together. Elva Johansson says that in this case, the percentage of Afghanis may need to be increased

Not like 2015?

In many parts of the European Union, there is great concern that the situation in Afghanistan could lead to a situation similar to what occurred during the refugee crisis six years ago, with hundreds of thousands of refugees from Syria on Europe’s roads.

However, Morgan Johansson says the situation is completely different now.

– There is a lot that separates the situation now compared to 2015. Getting to Europe is much more difficult, and passing through Europe is much more difficult than it was back then. So the risk of that happening is very small, Johansson says.

Support in the region

Tuesday’s statement promised stronger support to Afghanistan’s neighbors in order to provide refugees with protection and safe conditions.

However, both Sweden and the European Commission are skeptical that it will be able to enter into new migration agreements, similar to what the EU has with Turkey, which receives billions in support to deal with refugees from Syria.

– I don’t think it is appropriate in this situation to consider special immigration agreements, but it is about other types of support, says Elva Johansson.

– All the contacts you can have and the conversations you can have are good. But the question is how to get, for example, EU money into these countries in a secure way, without that money disappearing for purposes we don’t want it to disappear. There is a high risk of corruption, says Morgan Johansson in Brussels, for example.