Thousands of local Iraqi and Afghan linguists were recruited as translators and interpreters for allied troops during the conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan. When the troops were withdrawn, they were left behind.

Considered to be traitors by the insurgents, they and their families have been threatened, tortured and murdered.

To our knowledge, no allied country has brought all of its former interpreters back to safety. Visa programmes have operated very slowly despite the fact that interpreters were among the more vetted of locally contracted personnel.

Many of these linguists are now dispersed throughout Europe and on the borders of the EU as refugees in desperate circumstances.

1. Would the Vice-President/High Representative agree that this is no way to treat our allies?

2. Could the Vice-President/High Representative please provide the latest figures concerning the number of local linguists employed by EU Member States in Iraq and Afghanistan, the number of protective visa and/or asylum requests made by them, and the number of linguists who were actually granted visas/asylum?

3. Will the Vice-President/High Representative be urging EU governments and allies involved in allied operations in Iraq and Afghanistan to provide protective visas and/or asylum to these former interpreters and their families?