The EU’s continuing commitment to Afghanistan, up to and beyond 2014 ‘Transition’ - 05/12/11

EUPOL and Afghan female officers © EUEUPOL and Afghan female officers © EU

“We owe it to Afghanistan’s young people”, says HRVP Ashton on eve of Bonn conference.

High Representative Ashton is in Bonn on 5th December 2011, setting out a clear consensus on the EU’s long-term commitment to Afghanistan.  This goes up to and beyond the completion of the ‘Transition Process’ in 2014, when foreign troops will go, leaving the country under Afghan security control.

The launch of negotiations for an EU-Afghanistan Cooperation Agreement on Partnership and Development – agreed by European Foreign Ministers in Brussels in July and November – provides the legally binding strategic framework for EU support which is worth some  €200 million a year, reinforced by a further €30 million of humanitarian aid.  Meanwhile a quarter of the 130,000 troops in Afghanistan come from EU Member States.

EUPOL – the EU’s mission which has given training to some 12,000 Afghan police officers in the last five years – has just had its mandate extended until the end of 2014.  Bringing together 320 EU and other international police experts with 200 Afghan staff, EUPOL has received €300 million of EU funding.Meanwhile other EU assistance will be kept at the same levels, with a continuing focus on helping Afghanistan to build competent and accountable institutions of democracy and national and local government, as well as supporting civilian policing and rural development programmes.

"The Bonn Conference is an important gathering for an important cause: assisting Afghanistan on the road to sustainable peace and development", said HRVP Ashton. "My main messages for the conference are that the EU will remain engaged, and that we want to build a long-term partnership with Afghanistan. In return, we want to see Afghanistan continue to work on improving governance, strengthening democracy and protecting human rights, especially for women."