EU Council Conclusions on Increased EU Assistance to Combating Drugs in Afghanistan

EU Council Conclusions on Increased EU Assistance to Combating Drugs in Afghanistan, Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting, Brussels

The Council adopted the following conclusions:

"THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Recalling that Afghanistan is the source of approximately 90% of the heroin consumed in the European Union;

Recalling that organised crime, including cross-border trafficking in drugs, is identified as one of the key threats to the security of the EU in the European security strategy;

Recalling the importance of regional and international cooperation for Afghanistan to face successfully the challenges posed by drug cultivation, manufacturing, trafficking and abuse;

Recalling that one of the priorities in external relations of the EU Drugs Strategy (2005-2012), which complements the Hague Programme on strengthening freedom, security and justice in the European Union, is assisting third countries, including key drug producing and transit countries to be more effective in both drugs demand and drugs supply reduction. Particular attention should be paid to the co-operation with, among others, Afghanistan and its neighbours;

Recalling that the EU Drugs Strategy further calls for intensifying law enforcement efforts directed at non-EU countries, especially producer countries and regions along trafficking routes;

Recalling the commitment from the EU Drugs Action Plan (2005-2008) to provide assistance to and co-operate with Afghanistan (particularly in the context of the delivery of its 2005 Counter-Narcotics Implementation Plan and future implementation plans) and its neighbours; the EU and Member States should aim to increase their assistance; and provide assistance to the law enforcement agencies of these countries in the field of counteracting the production and trafficking of drugs and diversion of precursors, including assistance in the field of training;

Recalling the first ever EU Drugs Troika with Afghanistan that took place on 6 September 2005 in Brussels in the presence of the Afghan Minister for Counter Narcotics;

Recalling its recognition of the importance of working with Afghanistan to tackle the supply of heroin to the EU made at the informal meeting of EU Ministers of Justice and Home Affairs on 8-9 September 2005 in Newcastle;

Recalling the need for a balanced approach to the drug problem and thus recognizing the growing problem of drug abuse in Afghanistan;

ADOPTS THE FOLLOWING CONCLUSIONS:

1. The Council welcomes the important progress made by the Afghan Government in combating drugs. The Council congratulates the Government of Afghanistan on achieving a 21% reduction in cultivation in 2005, notes that production fell by much less and welcomes its commitment to reducing cultivation and production further. The publication by the Afghan Government of the 2005 Counter-Narcotics Implementation Plan is also an important step forward. The Council welcomes the balanced and holistic approach set out in the 2005 Counter Narcotics Implementation Plan, and in particular, the Government of Afghanistan's focus on developing licit alternatives to the cultivation of opium poppy while increasing the risk to those involved in drug trafficking and the sale of opiates, as well as reducing the consumption of drugs. The Council also welcomes the establishment of a Ministry of Counter Narcotics charged with developing counter-narcotics policy and co-ordinating the CN activities of related Ministries and Government actors. In this context, the Council looks forward to the publication of the Government of Afghanistan's updated National Drugs Control Strategy.

2. The Council underlines the important steps made in 2005 to increase the EU's assistance to Afghanistan in combating drugs, including the provision of assistance through the UNODC. This work has resulted in an increase of EU commitments of over 250m euro in 2005 and the provision of additional trainers, mentors and other personnel to support the development of Afghan capacity. The Council welcomes the decision by the European Commission to commit euro 15m to Afghanistan's Counter Narcotics Trust Fund (CNTF), which provides an efficient and effective avenue for donor contributions and allows Afghan ownership of the allocation of resources, supported by accounting and scrutiny by the United Nations. The Council welcomes contributions made by Member States, as set out in the annex ('Matrix of increased EU assistance') to these Conclusions.

3. The Council reaffirms that the EU and its Member States will continue to aim to increase their assistance to Afghanistan and her neighbours, in support of the objective set out in the EU Drugs Action Plan 2005-8. For the long-term political and economic stability of Afghanistan, a strong and continued commitment on behalf of the EU is essential. As set out in the EU-Afghanistan Joint Declaration -Committing to a new EU-Afghan Partnership, counter-narcotics work will continue to be a key pillar of activity in the EU-Afghanistan relationship.

The Council therefore welcomes the opportunity to commit resources through the CNTF, and recognises the need to spread assistance across the eight pillars of the Counter Narcotics Implementation Plan. The Council recognises also the importance of making both financial contributions, as well as contributions of police trainers, prosecutors, and other relevant mentoring personnel.

4. The Council underlines the importance of the regional dimension of the EU's approach in supporting Afghanistan in combating drugs. Working closely with Afghanistan's neighbours to strengthen their borders and to promote cross-border co-operation with Afghanistan is a key element of the EU's approach. The EU is determined to support the efforts of Afghanistan and her neighbours to develop this co-operation in the framework of the Good Neighbourly Relations Declaration on drugs and welcomes the Commission's initiatives in this regard. The Council also supports work being undertaken by the Paris Pact Mechanism to co-ordinate assistance to countries on the heroin trafficking routes. The Council also welcomes UNODC's CARICC initiative as a means of enhancing regional cooperation between Afghanistan and Central Asia.

5. The Council underlines the importance of the Matrix of Increased EU Drug Assistance to Afghanistan that is in Addendum and which should continue to be updated, and reviewed, in the context of yearly EU-Afghanistan Drugs Troika meetings, building on the inaugural such meeting held in September 2005."

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• EU Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner attends international conference on peace-building in Afghanistan (30/1/2006)
• EU Council Conclusions - Afghanistan (30/1/2006)
• EU Presidency Declaration on Inauguration of Afghan National Assembly (19/12/2005)
• EU Presidency Statement - Situation in Afghanistan (29/11/2005)
• EU Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner: Joint Declaration confirms EU's commitment to Afghanistan" (16/11/2005)
• EU-Afghanistan Joint Declaration (16/11/2005)
• EU Presidency Statement - Security Council open debate on Afghanistan  (23/8/2005)
• EC President Barroso meets Afghan President Karzai on Afghan reconstruction programmes for 2005/2006  (11/5/2005)