News Release
No. 122/04
July 30, 2004
EUROPEAN COMMISSION SUPPORTS AFGHAN ELECTIONS WITH AN ADDITIONAL
€9 MILLION
The Commission has approved a further €9 million package to support
the elections in Afghanistan.
The funding will support the Elections Project managed by the United Nations (UN),
to which the European Union (EU) is the biggest single donor.
Taken with previous contributions donated towards the preparation of these elections
(voters’ registration) today’s announcement brings the European Commission contribution
to €24 million, and when Member States’ donations are added the total EU funding
for the entire elections process reaches almost €80 million. Following the successful
adoption of the new Constitution on January 4 2004, the holding of Presidential
elections - now scheduled for October 2004 - is the next important milestone for
Afghanistan
on its road to a democratic future as set out in the Bonn Agreement.
Afghanistan has no tradition of democratic elections, and there is a lack
of local experience and expertise. Providing the necessary personnel, materials
and security is an enormous challenge, and substantial support from the International
Community is necessary.
The Elections Project will provide support for election polling and is in addition
to the Voters Registration Project, which is in its final stage of implementation.
Both projects are being managed by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan
(UNAMA) at the request of President Hamid Karzai.
The Elections Project will provide up to US $100 million, for the joint Afghan
and UN Electoral Management Body (JEMB) to prepare and organise election polling.
The project encompasses voter information campaigns, which will particularly target
women, so far excluded from political decision making, as well as aiming to ensure
all candidates are able to access media and to build the capacity of national
election monitors. In addition, the Commission is deploying a Democracy
and Election Support Mission to support the EU in assessing key aspects of
the electoral process.
The funding announced today is part of the substantial assistance which the
European Commission is making available to Afghanistan from Europe’s Community
Budget, which is consistently outstripping the levels promised at the Tokyo Donors’
Conference. Having promised €400 million for 2003-4, the EC spent €300 million
in 2003 and plans to commit around €245 million in 2004.
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Press Contacts:
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Anthony Gooch
202-862-9523
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Maeve O'Beirne
202-862-9549
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