EU-Afghanistan: Cooperation agreement on partnership and development

 

SUMMARY OF:

Cooperation Agreement on Partnership and Development between the European Union and its Member States, and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

Decision (EU) 2017/434 on the signing, on behalf of the Union, and provisional application of the Cooperation Agreement on Partnership and Development between the European Union and its Member States and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THIS AGREEMENT AND DECISION?

• The agreement establishes an EU-Afghanistan partnership aiming to strengthen dialogue and cooperation with a view to:
  • supporting peace and security in Afghanistan and the region;
  • promoting sustainable development, a stable and democratic political environment integrating Afghanistan into the world economy;
  • establishing a regular dialogue, including on human rights and gender equality;
  • promoting development cooperation to eradicate poverty;
  • developing trade and investment;
  • improving coordination on global challenges.
• The decision concerns the signing, on behalf of the EU, of the Cooperation Agreement on Partnership and Development with Afghanistan.

KEY POINTS

• The parties to the agreement confirm their shared values as expressed in the Charter of the United Nations and recognise that the Afghan people, through their legitimate, democratic institutions and under Afghanistan’s constitution, are the rightful owners and drivers of Afghanistan’s stabilisation, development and democratisation processes.
• The EU commits to support the Afghan government in its efforts to build a secure and stable future for its people by carrying out reforms to strengthen governance and the rule of law, including:
• Political and strategic cooperation
  • combating terrorism and extremism;
  • combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism;
  • countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear risk;
  • achieving sustainable peace and development;
  • building legitimate and democratic institutions.
• Civil society and human rights
  • ensuring respect for human rights (including the rights of women, children, ethnic and religious minorities);
  • legal cooperation and policing;
  • combating organised crime and corruption;
  • combating illicit drugs;
  • preventing irregular migration flows.
• Development and trade
  • promoting social and rural development;
  • promoting inclusive economic growth;
  • achieving favourable conditions for sustainable foreign investment that benefits the people of Afghanistan;
  • respecting social, environmental and labour standards;
  • incorporating World Trade Organization rules.

FROM WHEN DOES THE AGREEMENT APPLY?

The agreement has been provisionally applied since 1 December 2017. It will enter into force once all parties have ratified it following their respective constitutional procedures.

BACKGROUND

See also:

• Afghanistan and the EU (European External Action Service)
• 2016 EU + Local Strategy for Human Rights Defenders in Afghanistan (European External Action Service)
• 2014-2020 Multi-annual Indicative Programme for Afghanistan (European External Action Service)
• EU Country Roadmap for Engagement with Civil Society in Afghanistan 2018-2020 (European External Action Service).

MAIN DOCUMENTS

Cooperation Agreement on Partnership and Development between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, of the other part (OJ L 67, 14.3.2017, pp. 3-30)

Council Decision (EU) 2017/434 of 13 February 2017 on the signing, on behalf of the Union, and provisional application of the Cooperation Agreement on Partnership and Development between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, of the other part (OJ L 67, 14.3.2017, pp. 1-2)

RELATED DOCUMENTS

Notice concerning the provisional application of the Cooperation Agreement on Partnership and Development between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, of the other part (OJ L 273, 24.10.2017, p. 1)

last update 28.04.2020