Editor in Chief: Moh. Reza Huwaida Friday, March 29th, 2024

WJ EU Friendship Group Meets EU Delegation

WJ EU Friendship Group Meets EU Delegation

KABUL - The European Union's Deputy Secretary General Maciej Popowski commenced his visit to Afghanistan on Monday, October 17, 2011 in meeting with members of the EU's Friendship Group of the Afghan Parliament. Commenting on the occasion, Mr. Popowski said "I am delighted to be here and wish to convey greetings from the President of the European Parliament, Mr. Jerzu Buzek.

I very much welcome the fact that the Afghan Parliament has reached a quorum and that the work of the Wolesi Jirga has therefore resumed. In addition, the recent approval of the supplementary budget bill for the recapitalization of Kabul Bank is a critical step forward in reinvigorating the Kabul Process."

The EU Friendship Group aims to foster relations between the European Parliament and the Afghan Parliament. This is Afghanistan's second EU Friendship Group – the first was set up in 2005. The newly-formed Group was set up on September, 2011, and Monday's meeting was its first.

Members were selected from a large number of nominees by the Afghan Parliament's International Affairs Committee.

The European Union aims to continue fostering its relations with the two houses of Afghanistan's Parliament, namely the Wolesi Jirga and the Meshrano Jirga, and assist the Afghan Government in strengthening democratic institutions as it moves towards long-lasting peace and stability.

Afghanistan's Parliament has welcomed the formation of the EU as it helps develop an understanding of how democratic structures can benefit Afghanistan as it emerges from decades of war.

Members said they hoped their first meeting would lead to a productive engagement with the EU, enabling Afghan Parliamentarians to enhance their own knowledge of how better to utilise the expertise of the EU in the development of democracy. (PR)