Brussels, 23/11/2001 (Agence Europe) - The EU continues to provide answers to the problems created by the attacks on 11 September, mainly in the field of civil protection, aid and reconstruction.
Thus: (a) civil protection: A communication is to be adopted on Wednesday next week in preparation for emergency situations caused by bio-terrorist attacks, a text developed with the participation of Commissioners Wallström, Byrne, Busquin and President Prodi; (b) Aid to Afghanistan: ECHO is preparing to allocate an additional EUR 8.5 million to face up to the humanitarian requirements after the fall of the Taliban (to counter the consequences of mine damage, to assist the return of refugees and displaced persons). The aid will mainly cover the southern part of the country not covered by the aid amounting to 15 million of 15 October. ECHO will open a permanent unit in Kabul to coordinate humanitarian action, and Commissioner Nielson will be in Afghanistan and Pakistan from 3 to 7 December; (c) reconstruction of Afghanistan: a meeting of international financial institutions is scheduled to take place in Islamabad from 27 to 29 November, a meeting of the policy group of donor countries (EU, United States, Saudi Arabia, Japan) in Brussels mid-December (perhaps on 18 and 19), followed ion January 2002 by a ministerial conference probably in Japan; (d) Future of Afghanistan: the Afghan factions that have accepted the UN resolution 1378 will meet in Bonn from 28 November to 7 December under the aegis of the UN, and the group for support to Afghanistan will meet in Berlin from 5 to 7 December.