Sumario: 8 July 2008, Strasbourg - Speech by Benita Ferrero-Waldner, European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, on the Situation in Afghanistan, European Parliament Plenary session
Mr President, Mr President of the Council and Mr Rapporteur Brie,
Honorary Members of Parliament,
Only yesterday, a suicide bomb close to our Delegation caused many casualties among ordinary Afghans. I join you in your condemnation of this terrible attack. My condolences go to the families who have lost loved ones and I wish all those injured in this terrible attack a speedy recovery.
To all of this is a stark reminder of Afghanistan's security context and background for today's discussion of this timely and comprehensive report.
The security situation has become very precarious indeed. Of course, this makes it harder for the international community and the Afghan government to make progress we so much need on the ground. But we can and will not allow those to prevail who wish to take Afghanistan backwards.
Over the last months - and in preparation of this report - we have worked closely together, here in Brussels and, of course, in Kabul with the help of our Delegation. Cooperation has been excellent and sets an example to follow. I would like to particularly thank you, Mr Brie, as Rapporteur for this report and, indeed, the Foreign Affairs Committee for this!
We welcome your interest in Afghanistan:
Two visits by the European Parliament in recent months to this still fragile country are witness to this engagement.
In November last year you received again parliamentarians from the Wolesi Jirga here in Brussels.
With a dedicated "Afghanistan Delegation" you are following developments on the ground and in the region closely.
Your report addresses a central issue: "Afghanistan's stabilisation" and, indeed, the challenges the EU and the international community are facing in this context.
Only a month ago the Paris Conference focused on the following:
The threat of terrorism has not yet been overcome.
Public opinion here in Europe and other parts of the international community does not always appreciate the challenges and does not always embrace the efforts it takes to combat this threat.
The Paris Conference has been a good opportunity to revise and review our strategy on the occasion of the launch of the Afghan National Development Startegy.
We, as EC, have committed €1.2 billion from 2002-2007:
We have particularly worked on
Providing better security to Afghanistan by financing the police salaries; closely linked to this is our support for Afghanistan's police and its reform.
Providing economic alternatives to opium poppy
Improving the lives of Afghans through better health care - where we already have been part of the undeniable success of recent years.
Regional integration through transport links, notably the main road to Jalalabad linking Kabul with Pakistan and through a programme for well managed border posts with Pakistan and Central Asia
But the Paris Conference also delivered a distinct political message about overdue changes. They are indispensable if we want to realise mutual obligations under the Afghanistan Compact and turn international efforts into success on the ground.
More and better coordination is needed among all international actors and with the Afghan Government. As for the European Commission, we are firmly committed to this agenda. I also personally assured the UN's Special Representative Kai Eide of our full support in his difficult tasks: for us the UN has always had the central role in coordination.
But, more than this, we now need to see real and genuine commitment from our Afghan partners. They rightly ask for more ownership in their state building process. However, with it comes responsibility they must assume and a vision for their country.
We are heading for elections in Afghanistan in 2009 and 2010. Undoubtedly, for the government it will be crucial to regain legitimacy, which has been dented by corruption and weak governance, notably in provinces.
We are looking into ways how to best support these elections.
Afghanistan is, indeed, at cross roads: many of the earlier achievements of democratic state building - notably human rights, freedom of expression and media - are now under pressure. It will be hard, under such circumstances, for civil society to emerge.
In this context, your engagement and your cooperation with the Afghan parliament, the Wolesi Jirga, are invaluable. You can contribute to fostering a democratic process Afghanistan needs to embark on in earnest. Or else it will continue to be left behind in the 21st century.
As EU, we have the responsibility to support Afghanistan - in the interest of the people of this country but also to foster stability in the region and in our own European interest. And, of course, we must not forget that our assistance is financed through tax payers money.
Thank you for your attention and I look forward to our discussion of these important issues.
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