When the EU foreign affairs representative Borrell says, “we will have to enter into dialogue with the new government in Afghanistan”, it sounds resigned.
But realpolitically there is no getting around it.
The Europeans need the Taliban's willingness to work with them: there are still vulnerable people in the country who want to leave the country;
there is a threat of a humanitarian emergency and, sooner or later, a large movement of refugees towards Europe.
Under no circumstances should Afghanistan again become a base of operations and a retreat for transnational terrorists and jihadists.
The Taliban could meet the European conditions if they actually take a less radical Islamist course.
That would give them international legitimacy and lead to Western aid being granted again.
But what if the new rulers only appear to respond to the demands or do not even think about fulfilling them?
Then Europe would still be interested in ensuring that another large movement of refugees does not get under way and that terrorist groups from the Hindu Kush do not wreak havoc again.
Would you allow yourself to be blackmailed?
For now, Europeans have no choice but to look for a form of cooperation below the threshold of recognition.
If they are led behind the light, the consequences would be inevitable.