Eupol Afghanistan: we are progressing, slowly, too slowly…

(BRUSSELS2) The 27 Foreign Ministers reaffirmed, on Tuesday, their " determination to make a significant contribution to the reform of the Afghan police ". " Strengthening the police and rule of law sector in Afghanistan is key to promoting stability and security in the country they added. But beyond the words, the actions seem less consistent.
The staff of the European police mission EUPOL Afghanistan is filling up slowly, very slowly. The last conference - organized on November 10 - made it possible to reach a (promised) staff of 320 people, against about 270 now (NB: the objective was set at 400 people in May 2008!). " It is less than I expected - did not hide Carl Bildt, the Swedish Foreign Minister who chaired the meeting - but we are moving forward »

A new call. " It is of the utmost importance that the EU honors the commitments made in favor of the reform of the Afghan police services. The Council stressed the importance of Member States providing the mission with the personnel and logistical means it needs (1) to carry out its mandate throughout the country reaffirmed the 27, hand on heart. Let's hope that their colleagues from Interior and Finance (who hold the wallet) will hear this call and that this is the last time we will have to talk about it here!

At the organizational level, Eupol's priorities have been reviewed and grouped into six objectives: intelligence, the chain of command, control and communication, judicial investigations, the fight against corruption, links between the police and the prosecution, consideration of the issue of gender equality. EUPOL has also set up a "project unit". And its budget has been (slightly) increased accordingly.

(1) In particular, there is a lack of means of transport, such as helicopters or planes, if the mission is to be able to get out of Kabul. According to a European policeman, the mission is effective in the Afghan capital. But outside, in the provinces, it's another story...

(photo credit: Council of the European Union, Carl Bildt and Benita Ferrero Waldner, during the press conference)