ICMPD, EU Agency for Asylum, partners tackle humanitarian admission, safe resettlement, and legal pathways for Afghans in Europe

Discussions focussed on both labour migration and education mobility, amidst evolving humanitarian and security dynamics in Afghanistan and in the neighbouring regions.

The EUAA convened the Resettlement and Humanitarian Admission Network Expert Platform on Safe Pathways for Afghans on 19-20 June, where representatives from EUAA, ICMPD, and the European Commission highlighted the urgent need for stronger collaboration for safe and legal migration pathways for Afghan nationals. ICMPD’s MRC Afghanistan also presented its innovative use of digital platforms, gender-inclusive training programmes, and strong network-building to support mobility for Afghans – including through complementary pathways – through educational and employment opportunities.

“Since the fall of Kabul in 2021, Afghanistan has faced severe and persistent challenges. Afghan women, in particular, have been systematically excluded from political, social, and economic life; and banned from education and employment, which represents yet another serious migratory push factor. It is understandable that global resettlement numbers for Afghans may decline over time, especially as new crises emerge elsewhere. This meeting on exploring complementary pathways for Afghans, particularly women, through education and employment opportunities based on merit—is both timely and essential,” said Ralph Genetzke, ICMPD’s Brussels Mission Director.

A highlight of the two-day meeting of experts was a keynote address by Pashtana Durrani, an Afghan human rights activist, who underlined the importance of education access for displaced [Afghan] youth. “These hybrid format of teaching programmes demonstrate how localised tech-enabled education models can function under extreme constraints, powered by resilience and determination of Afghan women. We need to reframe education not as charity, but as an investment in future industry leaders. Afghan girls are not waiting to be saved—they are ready to lead, if given the right tools and recognition,” said Ms Durani.

Key partners shared their achievements and ongoing collaborations for Afghanistan’s humanitarian and security situation, complementary pathways including education, refugee labour mobility, and partnerships:

• The EU Delegation to Afghanistan and UN partners provided a comprehensive overview of the political and humanitarian challenges, including mobility trends in Pakistan, Iran, and Türkiye;
• The EUAA presented findings from its latest mobility trends report; highlighting the need for evidence-based safe pathways and complementary approaches to address displacement;
• Italy’s Ministry of Interior, along with Caritas Italiana and FCEI, outlined successful models transitioning from humanitarian corridors to structured labour visas; and
• The STEP project also highlighted practical implementations in Spain and Ireland.

ICMPD Senior Project Manager Golda Roma moderated the Insights from different countries on Education Pathways for Afghan Refugees panel discussion with Claudia Langer (Imagine Foundation, Germany), Sónia Pereira (Nexus), and Belén Vallina González (Yaran Foundation). The three organisations are actively implementing third-country education pathways for Afghan women. Each shared operational experiences, lessons, and strategic reflections from their respective programmes targeting displaced Afghan students. The panel offered in-depth insight into the practicalities of implementing education-based complementary pathways under fragile, gendered and post-conflict conditions.

The event highlighted strong political and institutional commitment toward developing structured pathways for Afghan refugees. These include:

• The need for practical models, as shared by civil society and international organisations, which offer valuable blueprints for replication;
• Continued monitoring, data sharing, and flexible policy mechanisms as essential in addressing both immediate needs and long-term integration goals;
• Follow-up points include exploring potential collaborations with STEP and Talent Beyond Boundaries; as well as sharing national good practices with the EUAA to contribute to future knowledge-sharing platforms; and
• Monitoring the AMIF Call 2025 for funding opportunities tied to education and labour mobility initiatives.

The Expert Platform meeting followed the prior day’s State of Asylum Conference 2025, which addressed key trends in EU migration and asylum policy, and launched the EUAA Asylum Report 2025 as a comprehensive and practical resource for stakeholders.

¹ _{Partner governments represented were Australia, Brazil, Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States. International and civil society organisations included the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the Intergovernmental Consultations on Migration, Asylum, and Refugees (IGC); as well as the Yaran Foundation, Nexus, and Imagine Foundation.}