Commissioner Patten to attend International Conference on Afghanistan in Berlin

Commissioner Chris Patten will attend the International Conference on Afghanistan in Berlin on the 31st of March. The Conference, which is expected to be attended by 55 countries, including all EU Member States and those acceding on 1 May, and 10 international organisations, will discuss achievements to date and the key political and economic challenges faced by Afghanistan three years after the Bonn agreement. Once this year's elections have been held, Afghanistan will have completed the steps set out in that Agreement. The Berlin Conference is therefore an important opportunity to map out the next steps for the partnership between the Government of Afghanistan and the International Community.

Commissioner Patten said: "Despite some important advances, including the adoption of the new Constitution, Afghanistan faces serious challenges which it cannot yet tackle alone. The chief of these are the fragile security situation, the alarming growth in production of narcotics, and the acute poverty of much of the population. In Berlin, I will be underlining the European Union's continuing long term commitment, and determination to support Afghanistan in its transition to a more stable and prosperous future."

He added: "At the Tokyo Donors conference in 2002 the European Commission pledged €1 billion over the next five years, or around €200 million a year. The actual amount of assistance that we have been able to offer has been even higher. The European Commission has been not only generous, but efficient: over 70 per cent of the funds committed in both 2002 and 2003 were contracted within the same year, a record to be proud of. In Berlin, I will pledge to maintain this substantial contribution to Afghanistan. For the next three years, Commission support will continue at about €200 million per year. In 2004, we hope to commit even more: €203 million in reconstruction support and about €42 million in humanitarian aid - a total of €245 million."

The European Commission is announcing today the latest element in its €400 million package for Afghanistan for 2003-04: a Fifth Reconstruction Programme with a total budget of 119.5 million. The purpose of this Programme is to enhance the living conditions of the ordinary Afghan population, including returnees, by providing better access to basic services, a more secure environment, economic recovery and measures to reduce dependency on opium production. Like previous programmes funded by the Commission, this Programme is designed to contribute to building political stability and a fully operational public administration; to promote respect for the rule of law and human rights, especially those of women; and to alleviate poverty by improving levels of economic activity.

Background:

The 5th Reconstruction Programme is part of a €400 million Commission reconstruction package for 2003-2004 signed by the EC in March 2003, which concentrates on the four priorities of rural development and food security; public sector reform; economic infrastructure; and support for the health sector.

In 2003, the Commission provided over €300 million to Afghanistan, including an additional €50 million to promote security by supporting police salaries and training, and €55 million in humanitarian aid (ECHO).

In 2002 the Commission provided more than €280 million for reconstruction, including about €73 million for humanitarian assistance provided by ECHO.


For further information:

The EU's relations with Afghanistan - Overview

http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/afghanistan/intro/index.htm

For the French and Germanversion of this document please go to:

http://europa.eu.int/rapid/start/cgi/guesten.ksh?p_action.gettxt=gt&doc=IP/04/410|0|RAPID&lg=EN

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• The European Union and Afghanistan (30/3/2004)