Belgium issues one-day visas for Taliban delegation to attend EU return talks in Brussels (opens in new tab)

Belgium granted five tightly-circumscribed, 24-hour visas to a Taliban delegation so it could attend EU talks on deporting Afghan nationals. The move, carried out on 23 June 2026 under Belgium’s obligation to host EU meetings, has sparked sharp criticism from NGOs and MEPs but highlights how the country can limit Schengen‐area movement with territorial visas. The episode signals that further EU-Taliban engagement on returns is likely and that companies in Brussels should prepare for protest-r...