– I think it is possible, Johansson said during a meeting in the union on Thursday.
She acknowledged that accepting the refugees was not enough in itself to resolve the crisis in Afghanistan, but added that it was “our moral duty”.
– There are more people who need protection, she said. She pointed out that the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, estimates that there are around 85,000 Afghans living as refugees in the EU’s neighboring countries, and that these will have to be relocated over the next five years.
The EU should accept half, she believes.
Immediately, attention must be focused on evacuating those who are considered the most insecure in Afghanistan, among them female journalists and judges, Johansson said.
24 EU countries have already received a total of 22,000 Afghans following NATO’s chaotic withdrawal from the country and the return of the Taliban to power. It is a strong signal that the union is “ready to step in” to help vulnerable Afghans, Johansson believes.
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