The European Union will secure international protection for about 500 Afghans who have helped the bloc on the ground over the past 20 years, Slovenian Foreign Minister Anze Logar said on Wednesday, adding however that the "brunt of a possible migrant tide from Afghanistan should be borne by Afghan neighbours."

Slovenia is currently presiding over the Council of the European Union.

EU foreign ministers on Tuesday agreed that the Union’s member states should urgently secure assistance for those who have worked as interpreters for the European diplomatic service or as local logistics providers, as well as for members of their families, as they are facing death in Afghanistan, Logar said, adding that preparations are underway for these people to be transferred to Europe as soon as possible.

He said the burden of the operation would be distributed among the EU member states.

The EU foreign ministers agreed on Tuesday that the current crisis in Afghanistan must not lead to a new migration wave towards Europe, Logar added.

“All of us agreed that a migration tide, like the ones in 2015 and 2016, will not happen this time. The European Union will secure all funds so that agreements are reached with Afghan neighbours to assume the burden of possible waves of migrants,” Logar said.