Brussels, 26/02/2002 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday, the European Commission approved an initial reconstruction programme for Afghanistan of a total of 57.5 million euro, aimed at helping the country's Interim Administration to tackle the most urgent needs: support for the public administration, mine-clearance, rural activities, basic urban infrastructures. This is "yet another sign of Europe's substantial and sustained effort to help rebuild Afghanistan's society and economy", commented Commissioner Chris Patten, recalling that the contribution of the European Commission to the country's stabilisation and reconstruction had already amounted to 200 million euro in 2002.