15 European Union countries agree to house 40,000 Afghans / Article

The group is made up of 15 EU Member States.

Germany will receive 25,000 Afghans, the Netherlands 3,159, Spain and France 2,500 each, while the rest will receive fewer.

“And I think this is an impressive act of solidarity,” Johansson said. She said that allowing more Afghans to migrate in a controlled way would help prevent “unregulated arrivals”.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees had previously called on the EU to take in 42,500 Afghan refugees in five years, but some of the 27 EU member states were opposed.

It is estimated that 85,000 Afghans have fled their homeland to countries closer to the EU, but the fall of the Taliban in Afghanistan and the drought could lead to new refugee flows.

Following the chaotic withdrawal of the US army and the return of the Taliban regime to Afghanistan in August, 24 EU countries have already taken in 28,000 people evacuated.

However, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filipo Grandi, has warned of the need to house 85,000 Afghans living in poor conditions outside the EU and called on Europe to take in half of them.

Johansson had previously described the goal as “achievable”, but she had yet to convince EU governments. She was only able to approve the planned admission of 40,000 Afghans after meeting with their interior ministers on Thursday.

40,000 Afghans are part of a larger package of accommodation and reception for 60,000 people promised by EU Member States,

Under this package, France has agreed to take in 5,000 people and Sweden 4,200, but they may not be Afghans. Belgium has promised to accommodate 425 Afghans and 1,250 others.

EU officials have not yet been able to set a timetable for the reception of these people.

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