The EU at the Tokyo Conference on Afghanistan

EU News 321/2012

10 July 2012

European Commissioner for Development Andris Piebalgs represented the European Union at the Tokyo Conference on Afghanistan on 8 July, 2012. He reaffirmed the EU's long-term commitment to stand by Afghanistan to help make the country economically, financially and politically stronger, while at the same time underscoring that EU assistance requires Afghan authorities to follow through on their pledges to improve governance, ensure respect for human rights and stamp out corruption through 'tangible progress'.

The conference, which was also attended by EU Special Representative for Afghanistan Vygaudas Ušackas, resulted in international pledges amounting to a total of 16 billion USD for the period 2012-2015, to help Afghanistan become self-reliant after the withdrawal of the International Security Assistance Force currently in the country. The EU is a key donor, currently providing more than 1 billion EUR a year in development assistance together with its Member States.

 Photos by M. Shiraishi, EU, 2012

• Tweet