Stabilisation of Afghanistan: challenges for the EU and the international community

The Committee on Foreign Affairs adopted the own initiative report by André BRIE (GUE/NGL, DE) on Stabilisation of Afghanistan: challenges for the EU and the international community.

Above all, MEPs take the view that, as a result of the last 30 years of Soviet occupation, the fighting between various Mujahideen factions and repression under the Taliban regime, Afghanistan has started an important and complicated reconstruction process. They welcome the efforts and progress made since 2002 by the Afghan people, although the country must make considerable efforts to put an end to the vicious circle of poverty and violence. In this context, MEPs call on the Commission to bring forward an initiative for an international council comprising the main donors and UN organisations, in order to harmonise the different reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan.

To rebuild a durably stable and democratic Afghanistan, MEPs consider it necessary to mobilise the whole population and civil society at the different stages of the country’s reconstruction, including during elections. It is also essential to combat corruption, drug trafficking and violence, which undermines the development of Afghan society as a whole.

The EU, a political and humanitarian organisation: MEPs note that in Afghanistan the EU is primarily known as a humanitarian organisation. According to MEPs, the EU must have a stronger political influence, by strengthening its visibility at local level. As for the international community, it must better coordinate its efforts to provide efficient and sustainable civilian aid. A balanced budget allocating sufficient funds for civil reconstruction and humanitarian assistance is therefore essential. Measures are also necessary in terms of security, by providing Afghanistan with additional combat troops in the most difficult areas. In this regard, MEPs stress that  the US operation ‘Enduring Freedom’ could be perceived as counterproductive if the military pressure on the insurgents is not matched by a strengthened political process through which the Afghan authorities reach out to all segments of the population.

Strengthen security: efforts must be made to strengthen the fight against local and international terrorism, religious extremism, ethnic extremism, ethnic separatism and all actions aimed at subverting the territorial integrity and state unity of Afghanistan. Recall that Afghanistan's security problems are more complex than just a war on terror and they therefore require more than a military solution. According to MEPs, security and the rule of law are interdependent, and strengthening the rule of law is necessary in order to enable the country's citizens to make healthy economic and social choices. MEPs also stress the urgent need to develop a balanced and sustainable approach to security sector reform, providing for a professional national army and police force. However, it is worth noting that the overall outcome of police reform efforts during the past five years has been disappointing. Therefore, the international community and the EU police mission (EUPOL) must continue their efforts to develop Afghanistan’s own police force, characterised by respect for human rights and the rule of law. In this context, the EU must increase considerably the resources envisaged for EUPOL, in terms of both personnel and financing (in particular, MEPs regret the fact that the EUPOL mission has yet to reach full strength). MEPs also call for a strengthening of the reform of the legal system, in the context of the programme of assistance for Afghanistan, with the aim of professionalising the Afghan judiciary.

Security and development: according to MEPs, provincial reconstruction teams (PRTs) should concentrate on specific objectives related to security, training and working with the Afghan police and military, and supporting the reach of the central government into insecure areas. There is an urgent need to develop and strengthen the nascent civil society in Afghanistan, in order to develop a broad awareness of the importance of human rights and gender equality as well as the protection of minorities. In order to overcome the culture of violence prevailing in Afghan society, the international donor community should lend financial and technical support to local projects aimed at reconciliation.

Strengthen freedom of expression: all efforts must be made to ensure freedom of the media and the press. In this context, MEPs express their concern about President Karzai's refusal to sign the draft media law. They therefore call on the Afghan Government to undertake to guarantee effective freedom of speech for all its citizens, starting with the defence of Internet freedom. They also emphasise the importance of a forward-looking mass media law that is mindful of the country’s religious and cultural values without curtailing the independence of the media.

Death penalty: MEPs express their concern for the physical integrity of Ms Malalai Joya, Member of the Wolesi Jirga, and of Latif Pedram, two human rights activists under house arrest. Once again, they call on the Afghan authorities to introduce the moratorium on the death penalty as well as for fair trials for those individuals who are facing the death penalty.

Women’s rights: while MEPs note the unquestionable progress made in terms of women’s rights, they remain concerned about the huge income disparities between men and women, the very low literacy rate of women and the injustices – induced by cultural practices – suffered by women and girls. They stress the urgent need for measures aimed at protecting the rights of women as well as the need to earmark funds for them (particularly with a view to their education).

Afghan refugees: MEPs draw attention to the fact that the UNHCR has helped 3.69 million Afghan refugees to return to Afghanistan since March 2002, but that, despite these returns, approximately 3.5 million Afghans still remain in Pakistan and Iran. They are concerned about the decline in funding for Afghan refugees, and underline that maintaining a successful repatriation programme is likely to become more expensive. According to MEPs, the safe and voluntary return of Afghan refugees and displaced persons should remain a high priority for the international community.

Trafficking of drugs and opium: MEPs express their deep concern about the ever-expanding trafficking of opium, and stress that this trafficking is a source of corruption and undermines public institutions, particularly those in the security and justice sectors. According to MEPs, the international community led by the Afghan government must develop a long-term strategy aimed primarily at comprehensive rural development to curtail poppy cultivation. Furthermore, the major social and health problems caused by drug addiction in general, and the social and economic consequences for addicted Afghan women in particular, appear to be catastrophic (according to a survey in 2005, there were 920 000 drug users in Afghanistan, of which 120 000 were women). MEPs consider that the government of Afghanistan is currently unable to enforce the anti-drug laws in the country. The international community must therefore devise appropriate programmes, activities and awareness-raising campaigns targeting addicted women and their families.

Lastly, MEPs call on the Commission to regularly evaluate the effectiveness of European Union financial assistance, in order to achieve greater transparency. They also recall the European Parliament’s initiative to support democracy-building with parliaments in third countries, and resolve to make use of it for capacity-building of the Afghan Parliament.