Brussels, 17/01/2002 (Agence Europe) - Just a few days from the ministerial donors' conference in Afghanistan (Tokyo, 21-22 January), the Union's preparations are being stepped up. On Thursday evening, discussions continued within the Committee of Permanent Representatives (Coreper) on the financial commitments of the Member States and the Community. On one side, some Member States had put figures forward, under their bilateral contribution to the reconstruction of Afghanistan, but, on the other, they show some reticence to make multiannual commitments from now on from the Community budget, while the Commission hopes that the Community and its Member States will together contribute up to EUR 2.5 billion to the international effort over the next five years (see yesterday's EUROPE, p.10). The key to sharing the burden between the Community and the Member States was not yet precisely known.
One European Commission expert reminded the press on Thursday of the "need to accompany the Bonn Process, which remains fragile, with provisions on security and long-term multiannual financial support". The preliminary assessment of needs, conducted by the UNDP, the World Bank, and the Bank of Asia puts the cost of reconstruction as $10.5 billion over five years. In Tokyo, the Commission, represented by Chris Patten, plans to announce budgetary commitments already taken by the Community
For 2002 - EUR 200 million, of which a 70 million reserve could serve to cover needs not yet identified, or contribute to the United Nations Trust Fund - and new multiannual commitments. The Commissioner's spokesperson stressed the importance that the Commission attaches to a fair sharing of the financial burden between the Union and the three other members of rthe Donor Committee - the United States, Japan and Saudi Arabia, invited to provide a similar effort.