Актуальные проблемы Европы №3 / 2013. Коллектив авторов

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ считает, что история государств – членов ЕС может послужить примером успешного разрешения конфликтов.

       Abstract. The article covers a wide range of issues that demonstrate the EU commitment to achieve a more stable Afghanistan. It reviews the activities of the EU supporting the development of an effective Afghan state, providing humanitarian aid, promoting democracy and human rights, supporting counter-narcotics efforts. The author asserts that Europe can be considered as a current example of the successful settlement of conflicts.

       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.

Introduction

      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.

      The Lisbon Treaty, ratified by the 27 EU Member States in 2009, was a major achievement. This treaty includes key changes aimed at increasing the consistency and coherence of the EU's external actions. It provided the EU with its own Diplomatic Service – The EU External Action Service (EEAS), currently led by High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy, Baroness Catherine Ashton. The Lisbon Treaty has considerably changed the EU footprint in Afghanistan as it has done all around the world. It has strengthened the role of the EU in international relations and provided it with a single voice. For example, instead of two different representatives, the Head of the European Union delegation (HoD) and the EU Special Representative (EUSR) is now one and the same person. I therefore represent, negotiate and coordinate on behalf of the EU and works closely with the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General and the NATO Senior Civilian Representative as well as with the Afghan authorities and the International Community representatives in Kabul. Close coordination with all Member States also allows the EU in Afghanistan to be particularly coherent and efficient. I also work closely with my colleagues from Russia, India, China, Turkey, Australia and Japan and others who are involved in support and reconstruction of Afghanistan.

Why are the EU and MS in Afghanistan?

      The European Union is committed for the long haul. In November 2011, the EU and Member States' Foreign Ministers agreed that they would seek to continue their support for Afghanistan at least at current levels well into the «decade of transformation», from 2014 to 2024.

      That commitment will be embodied in the Cooperation Agreement on Partnership and Development (CAPD) between Afghanistan and the EU, which will soon be finalised. The agreement will provide the framework for our political and economic cooperation over the next decade, including in the areas of development, trade, governance, justice and human rights and women's rights. The strategic objectives pursued by the EU in its partnership with Afghanistan are to strengthen dialogue and cooperation with a view to supporting peace and security in Afghanistan and the region. This is of the upmost importance for Afghanistan, its neighbours and for the rest of the world. Among other priorities, the EU promotes sustainable development, a stable and democratic political environment and the integration of Afghanistan into the world economy. A particular emphasis is also made on establishing a regular dialogue on political issues, including the promotion of human rights and gender equality and the involvement of civil society.

      The EU will pursue these strategic objectives through a variety of instruments, including the Development Cooperation Instrument and the Instrument for Stability. However, in a highly aid-dependent environment, characterised by sometimes uncoordinated interventions, often outside of government structures, aid delivery poses significant challenges. As donor funding levels decline, sustainable private sector investment will need to increase to improve stability through jobs and increased revenue. In order to maximise the impact of aid in this highly complex environment, the government has put forward an Aid Management Policy. The main objectives of this policy are to improve the effectiveness of development cooperation through greater government ownership and leadership and to strengthen economic management by increasing flows of development assistance through the budget. So-called 'Afghanization' will be key to an increased sovereignty and responsibility over the country's stakes.

A close collaboration СКАЧАТЬ