Afghanistan: we spend without counting
(BRUSSELS2) This is a critical report that the European Parliament should soon adopt on spending in Afghanistan. Written by German MEP Jens Geier (Social and Democrats), a draft report was adopted by the Committee on Budgetary Control on Thursday (10 November). This is not the first time that the European Parliament has been critical of European action in Afghanistan. We remember that the Italian Pino Arlacchi (of the same party of Social Democrats) had produced a report, very sharp, advocating a "New strategy in Afghanistan". What's he saying ? " Current measures to manage EU funds in Afghanistan are inadequate. " But if " certain prerequisites were met ", it would be better.
Afghanistan = 2 billion euros since 2002
The aid paid to Afghanistan by the European Union is indeed not negligible. The country is even one of the main recipients of civil aid under the European budget: more than 2 billion euros have thus been committed and more than 1,8 billion euros already paid since 2002 for aid development and humanitarian aid. The problem is that these funds are, to a large extent, channeled through UN organizations. However, until recently they were rather reluctant to communicate.
Little control, little audit, or else not very accessible
It is only recently that some UN agencies have decided to grant access to these internal audit reports to the institutions of the European Union, but only on the premises of the agencies. "which complicates any attempt to use them correctly", underlines the rapporteur Jens Geier (German Social Democrat).
The parliamentary committee was particularly concerned about the lack of independence of the Afghan control and audit office, which is closely linked to the Afghan administration, which seriously hampers the granting of direct budget support. "The US government has learned its lessons the hard way. Today, having put management and control systems in place in some Afghan ministries, direct budget support is starting to bear fruit," the rapporteur said. Why not Europe, one might say.
Severe conditions required
The parliamentary committee calls on the European Commission to set rigorous and clearly defined conditions, as well as clear and measurable objectives, for the disbursement of budget support. " Direct budget support would allow the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to build the long-term capacity it urgently needs “, pleads the rapporteur.
As for going to check on the spot how the money is spent, it is an illusion... We must therefore take our word for it that everything has been well spent. Which is the whole dilemma of the international commitment in Afghanistan: continue to give to support the power, even if it means having a loss (more or less significant), go and check on the spot (at the risk of life) or stop funding.
(*) this report should be debated and voted on in the plenary session in December
