EU Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner attends international conference on peace-building in Afghanistan

Sommaire: EU Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner attends international conference on peace-building in Afghanistan (30 January 2006: Brussels)

FR - DE

European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, will tomorrow participate in the launch of a new framework for co-operation between Afghanistan and the international community in London. This political agreement gives both sides' tools and a plan with which to build greater security, progress on governance, human rights and rule of law, increased prosperity and social development and dealing with the scourge of narcotics. The conference will be attended by Afghan President Hamid Karzai, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, as well as ministers or senior representatives from more than 60 countries and international organisations.

Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Commissioner for External Relations and Neighbourhood policy said: "Afghanistan has come a long way since the fall of the Taliban, and the political transition process agreed in Bonn in 2001 has run its course. A new agreement between Afghanistan and the international community is necessary to show our enduring commitment and to set out the ways we will work together for sustainable stabilisation and development of Afghanistan particularly ensuring security, the rule of law and progress in terms of economic and social development."

She added:" The European Commission has kept its promises. Four years ago we promised €1 billion to support the reconstruction of Afghanistan. This year we will complete that pledge. Four years ago we promised that we would stay with Afghanistan for the long haul, and our EU Afghanistan declaration adopted in November 2005 and our support for this compact show that we intend to keep our word

The Compact will detail mutual commitments for the next five year across four key areas of vital importance for Afghanistan's future:

- security;
- governance, rule of law and human rights;
- economic and social development; and
- counter-narcotics

It will also include provisions on improving aid effectiveness and will establish a joint Afghan-international Co-ordination and Monitoring Board to oversee overall progress in implementation.

The EU-Afghanistan Joint declaration establishes shared priorities and mutual commitments designed to promote Afghanistan's political and economic development, and deepen further the EU-Afghan partnership.

Since the fall of the Taliban, Afghanistan has completed an ambitious political transition ("Bonn process") culminating in the inauguration of a new National Assembly in December 2005. The country has also made progress in other areas: economic growth; disarmament of militias and refugee returns.

However, much remains to be done. Although the Bonn process has been a success, these positive achievements remain fragile and uneven and are not yet sustainable. In order to ensure a peaceful, democratic and prosperous future for Afghanistan, substantial further efforts will be needed both from Afghanistan and from the international community.

In 2006, the Commission will provide €193million in development assistance to Afghanistan, completing delivery of the € 1 billion pledged for reconstruction at the Tokyo conference in January 2002. In addition, the Commission has also provided more than €203 million in humanitarian assistance over this period, bringing total funding for Afghanistan to more than €1.2 billion.

In the margins of the meeting, the Commissioner will also take part in a meeting between the EU troika and the Afghan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Abdullah Abdullah. Foreign Minister Plassnik of Austria, representing the Presidency; High Representative Solana and Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Kiviniemi of Finland will also participate on the EU side. The two sides will discuss the implementation of the Compact; EU-Afghan relations; and regional issues. This is the first such meeting since the EU-Afghanistan Joint Declaration of November 2005.

For details of the European Commission's assistance to Afghanistan since 2002, see
MEMO/05/309.

For more details on EU-Afghanistan relations:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/afghanistan/intro/index.htm

Ref: EC06-029EN
Source UE: Commission Européenne
UN forum:
Date: 30/1/2006

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