As the situation in Afghanistan unfolded, it became clear that the EU will largely remain an onlooker. We have failed our Afghan partners – many of whom are now in hiding and live in constant fear of being killed.

Yet it is also part of our responsibility to support and protect our local partners on the ground! Therefore, I call on the Parliament and the Council to now develop further instruments to better protect our local partners and to evacuate them if necessary.

We must not forget: Without the support of local partners, no EU action, no matter how rapidly deployed, will ever have a positive political impact on the ground.