Brussels, 14/03/2003 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission is to sign a EUR 400 million package of reconstruction aid to support Afghanistan for the period 2003-2004. The financing agreement will be signed on 17 March by Chris Patten, European External Relations Commissioner, during the Afghanistan High Level Strategic Forum that is to bring together, in Brussels, the Afghan government and the community of international donors under the aegis of the World Bank and the Commission.
The EU's contribution will focus on: rural development and food safety (EUR 103 million); economic infrastructure (93 million); reform of the public sector (98 million); support for the health sector to help reduce infant and maternal mortality (EUR 25 million); and the fight against the production of opium in 2003 (10 million). With this funding, the EU (Commission plus Member States) will continue to contribute to the reconstruction of Afghanistan by exceeding its pledge made the day after the fall of the Taliban to provide EUR 200 million annually over five years.