EU Council Conclusions on Afghanistan

2780th EXTERNAL RELATIONS Council meeting

The Council adopted the following conclusions:

"The Council confirmed the EU's strong long-term commitment to Afghanistan, as expressed by the European Council on 14 December 2006.

Following on from its conclusions of 11 December 2006, the Council approved the Crisis Management Concept (CMC) for an ESDP mission to Afghanistan in the field of policing with linkages to the wider rule of law. A Concept of Operations for the mission is now to be developed on this basis. The Council agreed that the ESDP mission to Afghanistan would provide added-value. The mission will work towards an Afghan police force in local ownership, that respects human rights and operates within the framework of the rule of law. The mission should build on current efforts, and follow a comprehensive and strategic approach, in line with the CMC. In doing so, the mission should address issues of police reform at central, regional and provincial level, as appropriate. Close coordination with partners should be ensured, and the International Police Coordination Board (IPCB) and its Secretariat should be a key mechanism for such cooperation. As part of an overall and coordinated European approach, the EUSR has an important role to play, also with regard to the ESDP mission. The ESDP mission should comprise an element to assist coordination of contributions, both equipment and rehabilitation of police infrastructure.

Particular attention should be paid to ensuring complementarity and mutual reinforcement with actions of the European Community, especially its proposed engagement with reform of the justice sector. This justice programme will aim to professionalise the judicial and public prosecution service eg through reforms to pay, grading and recruitment, as well as the establishment of a code of ethics. The programme could also assist in the development of a new national legal aid system and thus improve citizens' access to justice. This work is being designed to dovetail with the ESDP mission.

In the same spirit, the Council welcomed the holding of a meeting of the Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board (JCMB) at Political Director level, in Berlin on 30 January 2007. This was an important contribution to enhancing the coordination of the international community's efforts in Afghanistan. The Council underlined its appreciation for the central role of the JCMB as the main coordination body, both within the international community and with the Government of Afghanistan, and recognised the important work being done in this framework. The Council underlined the importance of strengthened coordination taking place in Kabul.

Finally, the Council welcomed the holding in Berlin of the second EU ministerial Troika meeting with Afghanistan, which took place on Monday 29 January 2007. This was the occasion to send the clear message that the EU stands by Afghanistan. The Council agreed that the EU would continue to work together with the Government of Afghanistan to stabilise and rebuild that country, by addressing issues of both security and development."

| Arriba |

• EU Commitment to the Governance and Rule of Law in Afghanistan - Speech by EU Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner (3/7/2007)
• EU police mission in Afghanistan starts (15/6/2007)
• Afghanistan: EU Council decides on EU Police Mission  (31/5/2007)
• EU Presidency Statement - United Nations Security Council Debate on Afghanistan (20/3/2007)
• Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran: EU Commission allocates €18m in humanitarian aid (14/3/2007)
• EU Presidency Statement - United Nations Security Council: Maintenance of International Peace and Security: Role of the Security Council in Supporting Security Sector Reform (20/2/2007)
• EU-Afghanistan Troika: EU Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner to present €600 million package  (26/1/2007)
• Afghanistan: the EU keeps its promises  (26/1/2007)