Mogherini – Kerry – Photo EU Council
(BRUSSELS) – An international conference on Afghanistan pledged support worth a total of EUR 13.6 bn Wednesday, cementing a ‘partnership for prosperity and peace’ between the Afghan government and the international community.
Over 75 countries and 25 international organisations and agencies attended the Conference under the patronage of President of the European Council Donald Tusk and the President of Afghanistan, Ashraf Ghani.
The aim of the conference was to provide a platform for the government of Afghanistan to set out its vision and track record on reform. For the international community, it was an opportunity to signal sustained political and financial support to Afghan peace, state-building and development.
The conference focused on joint international and Afghan efforts to increase the effectiveness of sustained international support and funding; Afghan reform efforts, including on economic reform, rule of law, improved public finance management and anti-corruption; and regional efforts to support a political process towards peace and cross-border economic cooperation.
In their communique, the participants underlined their collective commitment to deepen and strengthen their cooperation to achieve Afghanistan’s self-reliance in the transformation decade (2015-2024) and to create a political, social and economic environment that will allow Afghanistan to consolidate peace, security, sustainable development and prosperity.
They noted progress achieved on Afghanistan’s way to a “functioning, accountable and increasingly sustainable state”, but noted the “substantial challenges that the country still faces” and the further efforts needed.
To foster this progress, they reaffirmed their commitment to the Afghan-led state and institution building as outlined by the Afghanistan National Peace and Development Framework and the Self Reliance through Mutual Accountability Framework (SMAF); to sustained international support and funding at or near current levels through 2020 with increased aid effectiveness; and to regional and international support for ending violence to foster economic development and improve regional economic cooperation, and for a political process towards lasting peace and reconciliation.
Also at the conference, the European Commission announced new financial assistance to the Afghan Government in the form of a state-building contract.
The EU provides direct budget support through state-building contracts to countries in fragile and transitional situations.
EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini praised the efforts of the Afghan people in bringing about change as well as the support from the international community. “Today we renew our commitment to stand on the side of the Afghan people, to counter the forces that oppose growth and reconciliation, and to keep sustaining progress. The main objective of today’s conference is that we commit to supporting Afghanistan at or near the current levels until 2020,” she said.
