News Release
Chris Patten
No. 49/04
March 30, 2004
AFGHANISTAN: EUS CHRIS PATTEN TO ATTEND BERLIN CONFERENCE
AND UNDERLINE EUS CONTRIBUTION AND COMMITMENT TO SUPPORT RECONSTRUCTION
EU External
Relations Commissioner
Chris Patten will attend the International Conference on
Afghanistan in Berlin on March 31. The Conference, which is expected to be
attended by 55 countries, including all current
EU Member States and
those acceding on May 1, as well as 10 international organizations, will
discuss achievements to date and the key political and economic challenges faced
by Afghanistan 3 years after the Bonn agreement. Once this year's elections have
been held, Afghanistan will have completed the steps set out in that Agreement.
The Berlin Conference is an important opportunity to map out the next steps for
the partnership between the Government of Afghanistan and the International Community.
Commissioner Patten said: "Despite some important advances, including
the adoption of the new Constitution, Afghanistan faces serious challenges which
it cannot yet tackle alone. The chief of these are the fragile security situation,
the alarming growth in production of narcotics, and the acute poverty of much
of the population. In Berlin, I will be underlining the European Union's continuing
long term commitment, and determination to support Afghanistan in its transition
to a more stable and prosperous future."
He added: "At the Tokyo Donors conference in 2002 the European Commission
pledged 1 billion over the next five years, or around 200 million a year. The
actual amount of assistance that we have been able to offer has been even higher.
The European Commission has been not only generous, but efficient: over 70 per
cent of the funds committed in both 2002 and 2003 were contracted within the same
year, a record to be proud of. In Berlin, I will pledge to maintain this substantial
contribution to Afghanistan. For the next three years, Commission support will
continue at about 200 million per year. In 2004, we hope to commit even more:
203 million in reconstruction support and about 42 million in humanitarian aid
- a total of 245 million."
The European Commission is announcing today the latest element in its 400 million
package for Afghanistan for 2003-04: a Fifth Reconstruction Program with a total
budget of 119.5 million. The purpose of this Program is to enhance the living
conditions of the ordinary Afghan population, including returnees, by providing
better access to basic services, a more secure environment, economic recovery
and measures to reduce dependency on opium production. Like previous programs
funded by the Commission, this Program is designed to contribute to building political
stability and a fully operational public administration; to promote respect for
the rule of law and human rights, especially those of women; and to alleviate
poverty by improving levels of economic activity. The 5th Reconstruction Program
is part of a 400 million Commission reconstruction package for 2003-2004 signed
by the EC in March 2003, which concentrates on the four priorities of rural development
and food security; public sector reform; economic infrastructure; and support
for the health sector. In 2003, the Commission provided over 300 million to Afghanistan,
including an additional 50 million to promote security by supporting police salaries
and training, and 55 million in humanitarian aid (ECHO). In 2002 the Commission
provided more than 280 million for reconstruction, including about 73 million
for humanitarian assistance provided by
ECHO.
Afghanistan: How the EU is making a difference
The European Union (EU) has been and continues to be one of the major donors
backing the reconstruction of Afghanistan. Taking together contributions from
the Community Budget
and Member States, the EU provided over 850 million in 2002 and 835 million
in assistance to Afghanistan in 2003 to help in its reconstruction efforts.
At the Tokyo donors' conference in 2002, the European Commission (EC) played a
leading part in this EU performance. The Commission promised 1 billion over 5
years. In both 2002 and 2003, the actual amount committed to Afghanistan has been
higher, and assistance has been delivered swiftly. At the 31 March 1 April Berlin
International Conference on Afghanistan, Europe will again be a significant participant.
This reconstruction support is only part of the story Europe is also playing a
lead role in providing troops for the International Security Assistance Force
and the growing number of Provincial Reconstruction Teams which aim to improve
the security and stability for Afghanistan.
http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/afghanistan/intro/index.htm
Contributions from the Community Budget have outstripped the Tokyo pledge.
In Tokyo, the Commission effectively pledged 200 million per year for Afghanistan.
In 2002, the Commission delivered over 280 million (including 72 million from
ECHO). In 2003, the Commission delivered over 300 million (including extra 50
million to promote security by supporting police salaries and training, and
55 million from ECHO). In 2004, the EC expects to commit around 245 million for
reconstruction and humanitarian support.
The European Commission is delivering fast. In both 2002 and 2003, over
70 percent of funds were actually contracted within one year. This is an impressive
performance for the EC and indeed for any agency. Delivery is accelerating. Between
July 2003 and April 2004, the EC expects to commit a total of 337 in development
assistance alone. By August 2004, the EC expects that, at least 80 percent of
this will be contracted.
Priorities
Security is the single biggest problem facing Afghanistan at present. The
problem of warlord-ism continues to undermine the ability of the Afghan government
to spread its authority nationwide, and
terrorist actions underline the continuing instability in some parts of the
country. The south/south east of Afghanistan is increasingly a no-go area for
foreigners, and 13 million of EC aid had to be suspended at the end of 2003 due
to security concerns. A number of Member States are contributing to improved security
through NATO or through their own Provisional Reconstruction Teams. The EC is
supplying aid to support Germany and Italy in their lead role on law, order and
justice. The EC is also actively supporting the UK in their lead role in the fight
against opium poppy production.
Poor security is inextricably linked to the continuing prevalence of narcotics
which helps fund illegal activities. Afghanistan is once again the largest producer
of opium poppy in the world with bumper crops in both 2002 and 2003. This activity
may now account for as much as 50% of Afghanistan's GDP. This represents a concrete
danger to Europe, since 90% of the heroin on Europe's streets now comes from Afghanistan.
The European Union welcomes the unequivocal statement from the Afghan Government
at the recent International Anti-Narcotics Conference in Kabul (8-9 February)
stating its determination to stamp out poppy production. Capacity within the Afghan
administration to deliver services is uneven. While some Ministries are improving,
others remain weak. For Afghanistan to reap the full benefit of international
assistance, rapid reforms are necessary.
In 2003-2004 The European Commission is contributing to the international effort
to the following areas:
Just under 100 million is being devoted to the strengthening of the government
in Kabul, through reform of the public sector, capacity building within key government
institutions and continued financial support for the government's recurrent budget.
This helps the Afghan government deliver services, which are urgently required
by the population.
The EC is channeling over 100 million to rural development to underpin the
rapid growth that will provide legitimate long term employment for rural communities.
Almost three-quarters of the Afghan population depend on agriculture for their
livelihood. In addition, 9 million will be targeted explicitly on providing
alternative livelihoods in Eastern region for those who might otherwise depend
on illicit poppy cultivation.
The EC is supplying 65 million to help the Afghan police impose law and order,
another key component in Afghanistan's fight against drugs. Lastly, Afghanistan
must be better able to stop smugglers on its borders if the drugs trade is to
be controlled. To this end, the EC is financing a project to strengthen border
control on the Afghan-Iran border so the authorities are better able to interdict
and stop drug smugglers.
Beyond drugs and security, Afghanistan faces the challenge of preparing for
elections this year a key milestone in the Bonn Process to stabilisation and
democratisation. By early 2003, the European Union had financed 30 million for
voter registration, nearly half of the original budget for this exercise. Within
this, the Commission contributed 15 million. In addition the EC is making an
important contribution to the regeneration of the national economy by helping
to repair the roads network (90 million), boost public health (25
million) and remove mines and unexploded ordinance.
Results
The Commission's assistance programs are making a real difference to Afghans'
lives:
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Emergency work on the Kabul-Jalalabad road has already cut travel times by
up to half. Work to fully reconstruct the road is now underway; health services
are being delivered in 6 provinces, covering 20 percent of the population; key
public sector workers including doctors, teachers and nurses and the police are
back at work; a kick-start for the rural economy by providing 57,000 metric tons
of improved seed, vaccinating 200,000 animals and rehabilitating 633 irrigation
structures. This contributed to the remarkable economic take-off of the rural
economy in 2003;
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The creation of 1.4 million days of employment - in 2002 alone - to promote
rural livelihoods;
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The clearance of 8 million square meters from landmines, allowing families
to return to their homes to restart their lives; the rehabilitation of the women's
park in Kabul, plus hammans across many urban centers. For the first time women
can gather together in public without being accompanied by male family members.
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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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