Afghanistan

The crisis in Afghanistan

After decades of conflict, recurrent natural hazards and a high level of poverty, the Taliban takeover in August 2021 resulted in further economic decline, increased food insecurity and widespread deprivation.

The Taliban’s actions and decisions have led to the systematic and appalling exclusion of women and girls along with a dramatic worsening of the political, economic, humanitarian and human rights situation for the Afghan people.

The Taliban are also neither willing nor able to effectively address the presence and operations of terrorist groups on Afghan territory.

In 2025, Afghanistan continues to face one of the largest humanitarian crises in the world, with over 22.9 million people – more than half of Afghanistan’s population – in need of humanitarian assistance. Currently, 10 million people are facing acute food insecurity and 3.5 million children under 5 are acutely malnourished.

Three Afghan women walking and wearing a burka.

Millions of people across the country do not have access to safe water, enough food, and appropriate health care, making them more vulnerable to diseases and malnutrition.

Afghanistan continues to face a protection crisis, with women, children, persons with specific needs, and marginalised groups facing the biggest risks.

Women’s rights in Afghanistan

Nowhere in the world have women’s and girls’ rights been challenged as they have been in Afghanistan. The current situation is a cause of great concern with regard to the prospect of maintaining and enhancing the many gains made by Afghan women in the last two decades.

The Taliban have issued more than 70 edicts with many restrictions or prohibitions concerning:

girls’ attendance at secondary schools
dress codes (including ordering women to cover their bodies and faces in public)
segregation in workplaces
women’s freedom of movement without a male guardian (mahram)
women’s access to public places

The ban on secondary education led to 1.5 million teenage girls being out of school.

Women have also been completely excluded from the legal system, which has practically been dismantled, with the 2004 constitution suspended and the independence of the legal system no longer ensured.

At the end of December 2022, the Taliban decided to ban women from attending universities and working with NGOs. These edicts are not only discriminatory, they also have direct and sometimes life-threatening repercussions, as the absence of female humanitarian workers undermines the provision of aid to the most vulnerable.

In August 2024, the Taliban banned women’s voices from being heard in public.

The EU has made clear on many occasions its determination to continue to support women and girls in Afghanistan, in line with its values and principles.

In the conclusions adopted in November 2022, the Council:

condemned the Taliban’s systematic rollback of women’s and girls’ human rights and fundamental freedoms
called for targeted and substantial efforts by the high representative, the Commission and the member states to address the situation and to ensure the participation of Afghan women in policy dialogues concerning Afghanistan
recognised the importance of initiatives to further the ‘women, peace and security agenda’, such as the establishment of the EU-facilitated Afghan Women Leaders’ Forum

The EU’s commitment to peace and stability in Afghanistan

In March 2023, the Council adopted conclusions reaffirming the EU’s commitment to peace and stability in Afghanistan and to supporting the people of Afghanistan.

The conclusions reaffirm the importance and validity of the benchmarks outlined in the Council conclusions of 15 September 2021 for policies and actions under the Taliban-appointed caretaker cabinet.

The EU once again called on the Taliban, in the interest of the Afghan people, to:

respect, protect and fulfil all human rights, and address human rights violations and abuses
establish an inclusive and representative government
prevent Afghanistan from serving as a base for hosting, financing or exporting terrorism
provide unhindered and non-discriminatory humanitarian access
continue allowing safe, secure and orderly travel to and from Afghanistan

The EU also outlined that a stable Afghanistan is in the interest of the international community as a whole, to prevent regional instability, terrorism threats, forced displacement and irregular migration.

The Taliban’s actions and decisions have led to a dramatic worsening of the political, economic, humanitarian and human rights situation for the Afghan people, especially for women and girls.

Nevertheless, the EU remains committed to continuing its assistance to alleviate the severe humanitarian and socio-economic crisis, by providing humanitarian, basic needs and livelihood support as part of a principled approach, where women can meaningfully participate in its delivery and where women remain beneficiaries.

The EU also stands ready to further enhance support for Afghanistan’s neighbours and partners across the wider region to prevent negative spillover effects.

The EU has reiterated its unwavering commitment to supporting the full participation of all Afghans, including women and girls and persons belonging to ethnic and religious minorities, in all spheres of life in Afghanistan.

Humanitarian support for the Afghan people

Since 1994, the EU has provided around €2 billion in humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan. The main goal of EU humanitarian assistance for Afghanistan is to:

provide lifesaving assistance
ensure access to basic services
build the population’s resilience to crises

Between 2024 and 2025, the EU has funded humanitarian projects worth €320 million.

Interventions focus on emergency food assistance, healthcare and nutrition, education in emergencies, access to clean water, hygiene and sanitation facilities, shelter and non-food items, and protection services, including demining activities.

EU humanitarian aid in Afghanistan is channelled through humanitarian partners on the ground, such as UN agencies, international organisations and NGOs. The funding strictly adheres to the humanitarian principles of independence, impartiality and neutrality to ensure it reaches those Afghans most in need.

To facilitate the delivery of lifesaving aid, the EU has transported over 2 240 tonnes of relief items through 41 humanitarian air bridge flights to Kabul since August 2021.

Sanctions related to Afghanistan

Measures against the Taliban

The EU has imposed sanctions against those constituting a threat to the peace, stability and security of Afghanistan, including the Taliban, along with individuals and groups associated with them.

These measures implement UN Security Council resolution 1988 (2011) and include:

an arms embargo
a ban on technical assistance related to military goods and technology
travel bans for individuals
an asset freeze for individuals and entities

This sanctions regime currently applies to 135 individuals and five entities.

Sanctions against ISIL/Da’esh and al-Qaeda

On 20 September 2016, the EU established a dedicated framework of sanctions against ISIL/Da’esh and al-Qaeda and persons, groups, undertakings and entities associated with them.

These autonomous sanctions are complementary to those adopted under the ‘EU terrorist list’, the EU legislation that implements UN Security Council resolution 1373 (2001).

EU sanctions consist of:

travel bans for individuals
an asset freeze for individuals and entities
a prohibition on making funds or economic resources available to those listed

These sanctions currently apply to a total of 15 individuals and seven groups.