Chris Patten en Ben Bot bezoeken India, Afghanistan en Pakistan van 16 tot 19 februari (en)

Chris Patten, Commissioner for External Relations will be India, Afghanistan and Pakistan next week for a series of European Union (EU) Ministerial Troika⁽¹⁾ meetings. The Troika will be led by the Irish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Brain Cowen, accompanied by the Dutch Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Bernard R. Bot. The political dialogue meetings are expected to concentrate on bi-lateral relations, regional issues and international concerns. The meeting takes place at a time of renewed hope for reconciliation between Pakistan and India, who will be launching a first round of talks in Islamabad during the Troika visit (16-18 February). The EU will be expressing its warm support for this rapprochement, and for the new proposals for regional integration arising from the successful SAARC meeting in January. The EU will underline its willingness to support plans for a South Asian Free Trade Area by 2006, including with financial assistance. The Troika with Afghanistan comes just weeks before the Berlin International Conference which will review the political and financial challenges facing Afghanistan. The EU is a major donor to Afghanistan reconstruction and will, once again, make clear its long term commitment.

India

The Troika meeting in New Delhi will be held on February 16, with Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha. Likely topics for discussion will be the forthcoming European Commission Communication on relations with India, as well as latest developments in the region, including India-Pakistan relations, the recent successful SAARC summit, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, and international security issues, including non-proliferation. The Troika also hopes to meet Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and the leader of the Opposition and Congress Party President Mrs. Sonia Gandhi.

Background:

On 29 November 2003, the 4th EU-India Summit :

http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/india/sum11_03/index.htm

in New Delhi launched negotiations on a maritime agreement and on India's participation in the Galileo project.

The EU is both India's main trading partner and biggest foreign inward investor. The EU accounted for 23.2 % of India's exports and 21.2% of total imports in 2002. Trade between India and the EU has grown constantly over the past decade, nearly trebling to today's volume of €27 billion.

The European Commission will be devoting some €225 million to development and economic co-operation with India over the next 5 years.

EU-India relations are structured through a Co-operation Agreement (signed December 1993) and a political dialogue conducted at both ministerial and official level. Close contacts are maintained also through regular Business Summits, bringing together Indian and European business leaders, the EU-India round table, which brings together leading members of Indian and EU civil society, and co-operation on joint research projects by Indian and European Scientists.

For further information: EU-India relations

http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/india/intro/index.htm

Afghanistan:

On Tuesday 17 the Troika will arrive in Kabul. The formal Troika dialogue be held with the Foreign Minister, Dr Abdullah, and it is hoped that this will be followed by separate meetings with President Hamid Karzai and Finance Minister Ashraf Ghani. The main topics for discussion with Afghan ministers are deteriorating security and its implications for all aspects of the Bonn Process, the escalating drugs problem, the prospects for elections, and President Karzai's call for major new aid pledges to Afghanistan. Chris Patten is also planning to participate in a high level panel discussion on drugs, with Interior Minister Jalali and others.

During the trip, the European Commission will sign an agreement with the Afghan authorities to upgrade and make permanent the EC Delegation in Afghanistan. What started out as a small office manned by 4 diplomats in April 2002 has now become a large operation with an overall staff of 45 in charge as the ECs biggest co-operation programme in Asia. The signature of this agreement is a further symbol of the ECs long-term commitment to Afghanistan and its people.

Background:

The EU has been and continues to be one of the major donors backing the reconstruction of Afghanistan. Taking together contributions from the Community Budget and Member States, the European Union provided Afghanistan with over €850 million in 2002 and €835 million in 2003 to help in its reconstruction efforts.

At the Tokyo donors' conference in 2002, the European Commission promised €1 billion over 5 years: €200 million per year for Afghanistan. In both 2002 and 2003 the EC outstripped this pledge. In 2002, the Commission delivered over € 280 million (including €72 million from ECHO). In 2003, the Commission delivered over €300 million (including an extra € 50 million to promote security by supporting police salaries and training, and € 55 million from ECHO). In 2004, the EC expects to commit around €245 million for reconstruction and humanitarian support.

The European Commission is delivering fast. In both 2002 and 2003, over 70 percent of funds were actually contracted within one year. This is an impressive performance for the EC and indeed for any agency. Delivery is accelerating. Between July 2003 and April 2004, the EC expects a total of €337 million to have been committed in development assistance alone. The Commission intends that by August 2004, at least 80 percent of this will be contracted.

For further information: The EU's relations with Afghanistan - Overview

http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/afghanistan/intro/index.htm

Pakistan

On Wednesday 19 February, the Troika will meet Foreign Minister Mehmood Kasuri. Likely topics are recent domestic political developments, improving relations with India, the recent successful SAARC summit, other regional issues including Afghanistan, counter-terrorism and international security issues, including recent revelations about nuclear proliferation activities. The EU will underline its wish that negotiations should start in March on a re-admission agreement (see Memo/02/271).

During the visit Chris Patten will sign an agreement financing a co-operation programme on Trade-related Technical Assistance for Pakistan to which the EU is contributing €5 million. The agreement will be signed for Pakistan by the Minister for Commerce Mr. Humayun Akhtar Khan.

Background:

The EU regards its relationship with Pakistan as very important, not only because of bilateral interests but because of the contribution that Pakistan can make to the welfare and stability of the South Asia region.

The EU's relationship with Pakistan is conducted through a Co- operation Agreement dating back to 1986. Political dialogue has been upgraded, contacts have intensified, and the EU is willing to consider more frequent meetings.

The EU is Pakistan's main trading partner representing around 22% of two-way trade. Main EU import items are textiles, agricultural products and machinery and equipment. Between 1995 and 2002 EU imports from Pakistan increased by around 50%.

The EU has proposed €71 million in development assistance for Pakistan in the years 2003-5, focussed on education, fostering the trade and business environment, fighting child labour and rehabilitation of drug users. In 2002, the EU responded to the pressures on the Pakistan economy provoked by events in neighbouring Afghanistan, with a preferential trade package worth some €210 million per year, as well as a €50 million budgetary support programme for the reform of the financial sector.

For further information: The EU's relations with Pakistan - Overview

http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/pakistan/intro/index.htm

^{(1) Troika: Current Irish Presidency of the Council of Ministers of the EU, Future Dutch Presidency, the High Representative/Secretary General and the External Relations Commissioner}