EU pledges $223M to Afghanistan's development

By Ata Ufuk Seker

BRUSSELS (AA) - The EU on Tuesday signed a deal to provide 200 million euros ($223 million) in support to Afghanistan as the country seeks to establish reliable state structures, the union’s executive said in a statement.

The European Commission said the “state-building contract” signed by Afghanistan’s Finance Minister Eklil Ahmad Hakimi and EU International Development Commissioner Neven Mimica would cover a two-year period from next year.

“Today’s signature is an important step forward for the EU’s development partnership with the Afghan government,” Mimica said. “The EU is committed to increasing the effectiveness of our aid, as a sign of our confidence in the Afghan side to deliver on its reform program.”

Hakimi said the deal would allow his government to implement development priorities and “improve the lives of the Afghan people.”

The package, which will support more budget management and anti-corruption measures, is part of a 1.4 billion euro ($1.57 billion) agreement between the EU and Afghanistan covering development from 2014 to 2020.