Ключевые слова: Евросоюз, стабилизация Афганистана, продвижение демократии, защита прав человека, борьба с наркотиками, разрешение конфликтов.

Keywords: the EU, stabilization of Afghanistan, democracy promotion, protection of human rights, conflict settlement.

All EU countries, as well as the Afghans themselves and the international community share a common goal – to achieve a more stable Afghanistan. Afghanistan needs to take responsibility for their own security and have a functioning public administration system. Our objective is to help rebuild the foundations of Afghanistan, so that it is able to protect its own people and control its territory and so that Afghanistan does not again become a safe haven for terrorists. For the past two decades, the European Union has demonstrated its commitment to Afghanistan. The history of the engagement began in 1994 when the European Commission decided to support the people of Afghanistan affected by the ongoing conflict and natural disasters through its Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department, ECHO.

Even during the Taliban era, the European Union was still present in the country. Based in Peshawar at that time, ECHO worked to provide an emergency aid to the Afghan people. During these troubled times, when the Taliban government was issuing directives to force NGOs out of the country, ECHO did everything in its power to continue to deliver aid to those who most needed it in Afghanistan. The focus was on demining, safe drinking water, sanitation, safe housing for returning displaced people and relief for women and other vulnerable groups. In 2002, the European Union launched its first representation in Afghanistan. Since then, the EU has been one of the major actors in Afghanistan and one of its biggest donors.

Afghanistan continues to struggle from the impact of conflict. The enthusiasm triggered by the fall of the Taliban in 2001 started to turn to disillusionment as, from 2005 onwards, the state struggled to maintain security and control over its territory and failed to deliver on the aspirations of citizens for a prosperous and peaceful Afghanistan. Despite this, substantial improvements have been achieved in terms of access to basic health services, education and agriculture.

The EU has always considered assistance to Afghanistan and the region as a priority. Many Member States have participated, since January 2006, in the NATO International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and all are present in the country either through their embassies or through the EU Delegation.

The European Union and its Member States are committed to combating the threat from international terrorism and increasing the security of European citizens while significantly ensuring that Afghans are able to have a normal life. In this respect for the EU the overall mission is to support the development of an effective Afghan State capable of fulfilling the political, social and economic rights of its people and to encourage the peaceful expression of conflicting views without resorting to violence. It is also of the utmost importance for the European Union to help build the foundations of a sustainable network of public institutions that can guarantee the gains witnessed during the last eleven years, particularly in the area of women rights, and help shape sustainable economic development for the country.

The EU and Member States have been major donors in supporting the development of a stable and prosperous Afghanistan and currently spend more than €1 billion a year in development aid in the country. Their commitment is for the long term reflected in the fact that they have agreed to maintain their support for Afghanistan at current levels for the years to come. In a country where an estimated 36 percent of Afghans still live below the poverty line, and the population continues to experience high rates of malnutrition and food insecurity, the EU is also providing much needed humanitarian aid and contributing to the elimination of poverty.