Brussels, 30/03/2004 (Agence Europe) - Chris Patten will be representing the European Commission at the third international donors conference for reconstruction in Afghanistan on 31 March in Berlin (EUROPE yesterday p 12). The objective will be to examine progress accomplished since the Bon agreement three years ago and mobilise funds for meeting the challengers confronting the country, particularly in the fight against drug trafficking. The European Commissioner intends to speak about the long term commitment and determination of the EU to support Afghanistan with an EU promise of commitment (Commission as well as Member States). the Commission considers that it has already been very generous and that the ball was now in the camp of Member States. In a press statement, Chris Patten declared to Tokyo donors conference in 2002 that the Commission had committed EUR 1 billion over five years, 200 million a year. He also explained that the current level of aid that they were now providing was even more. He said that at Berlin he would make a commitment to maintain this substantial contribution. "In 2004, we hope to be able to commit around EUR 203 million to support reconstruction and 42 million in humanitarian aid".