KABUL - Afghanistan and Europe Union delegations under EU-Afghanistan Cooperation Agreement for Partnership and Development hold second joint committee talks in Kabul on 14 May 2019 and discussed the upcoming election and peace process among other issues, the EU Delegation to Afghanistan said in a statement.
According to a statement released on Tuesday, the Afghan delegation was led by Mohammad Qayoumi, Acting Minister of Finance and EU delegation led by Gunnar Wiegand, Managing Director for Asia and Pacific in the European External Action Service.
The Joint Committee oversees the implementation of the Cooperation Agreement for Partnership and Development, signed by the EU and Afghanistan in February 2017 to underline their mutual commitment to deeper relations through a comprehensive partnership, the statement said.
The Committee was preceded by two EU-Afghan working groups last week: the Special Working Group on Economic and Social Development and the Working Group on Human Rights, Good Governance and Migration.
The Committee reviewed the domestic situation in Afghanistan and in the EU, as well as regional and international developments, the statement said.
The EU and Afghanistan discussed in particular development cooperation, trade, investment, good governance, human rights, humanitarian issues, and migration, the statement noted.
The two sides also discussed electoral processes and the upcoming presidential elections, which, they agreed, are essential to strengthen Afghanistan’s democracy and stability, the statement underscored.
The Joint Committee acknowledged the current peace momentum for Afghanistan, stressing the strong will of the Afghan people for a peace settlement that not only ends the fighting but also preserves the political, economic and social achievements of the last 18 years, in particular regarding the rights of women, children and minorities.
The Committee also discussed concrete steps to enhance EU-Afghanistan long-term cooperation in line with the EU Strategy on connecting Europe and Asia. (Tolo news)