Brussels, 18/07/2016 (Agence Europe) - Approving the second annual report on implementation of the European Union's strategy for Afghanistan for 2014-2016, which describes “visible” but “uneven” and “fragile” progress in many areas, the Council has announced that it would be favourable to extending this strategy for the 2017-2020 period, with a few adaptations. The goal is for the new strategy to be approved by the first quarter of 2017.
According to the conclusion adopted by the ministers without debate, “in the coming years, the EU and member states' overarching strategic goal should remain the development of Afghan institutions to safeguard progress to date and to further progress in the development of a more effective and ultimately sustainable Afghan state”. And while key objectives of the current strategy should be renewed, (namely to promote security, reinforce democracy, and encourage economic and human development) the new version of the strategy should take into account the regional dimension and focus more on migration - which have become priorities for the EU and the national Afghan priority programmes. The strategy “should focus on concrete results and include an implementation plan that specifies deliverable outcomes and a clear, coordinated division of labour amongst the EU and member states, in a multi-donor framework”, the Council conclusions state.
In addition, the conclusions say that the EU remains committed to supporting Afghan efforts in strengthening civilian policing beyond the envisaged completion of the police mission EUPOL Afghanistan in 2016. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)