Brussels, 06/07/2012 (Agence Europe) - At the international conference on Afghanistan (Tokyo, 8 July), Andris Piebalgs, European Development Commissioner, is expected to confirm the EU's commitment to providing the country with at least €200 million to stabilise and accelerate the country's development, which is still hindered by the precarious security situation. This meeting on Afghanistan - the third in two months - will be based around the process of the reconstruction of the country, the long-term strategy of the Afghan government, its development priorities for 2015-2025, donors' support and the creation of a roadmap for the ongoing examination of the mutual commitments made.
On Friday, two days before the event, Andris Piebalgs summed up the issues as follows: “Afghanistan needs to take full ownership of the reconstruction of its country to make the 'transformation decade' a success. The EU has the firm intention to stand behind Afghanistan in this process, together with the international community, and to maintain its substantial support. I'll confirm the EU will maintain its current level of €200 million a year. Afghanistan needs to fully live up to its commitments by reforming its public finance management its public administration and its economy while fighting corruption. The government must reinforce its credibility towards the people of Afghanistan and be able to provide the basic social services. We are ready to support it in this endeavour in a spirit of mutual accountability”.
In line with the guidelines of the EU development policy post-2013 (known as the “programme for change”), the commissioner adds: “We will ensure that donors fulfil their own commitments by strengthening their coordination to make aid more efficient and targeted in sectors where we can bring a real added value. The EU will focus on health, education and governance, in line with the Afghan priorities”.
For 2011-2013, the €200 million a year for Afghanistan's development are earmarked for governance, agriculture and rural development, health and social protection programmes. The Tokyo conference follows the NATO Summit (held in Chicago in May of this year) and the conference on regional development in the “heart of Asia”, which took place in Kabul in June.
Over the last 10 years, the EU has provided Afghanistan with over €2 billion. (AN/transl.fl)