EUPOL Afghanistan closes

(BRUSSELS2) After nearly a decade of supporting civilian police in Afghanistan, the European Union Police Mission in Afghanistan (EUPOL) officially closed its activity this Saturday (31 December) at midnight. In fact, the mission has already slowed down its activities for a few days already. A meeting marking the end of the mission was organized on Wednesday, December 14, a few days before the official end of the mission.

Half-hearted success

Since its creation in 2007, to provide strong support to the Afghan authorities, " we have come a long way. EUPOL has fulfilled its mandate by increasing the capacities of the Afghan Ministry of Interior » assessed on this occasion the Deputy Secretary General of the European Diplomatic Service in charge of the CSDP, Pedro Serrano. 

Europeans hailed the "ssuccess of this assignment. " EUPOL Afghanistan, in close cooperation with the Afghan government, has made concrete progress in several key areas: the professionalization of the Afghan National Police; the introduction of the concept of community policing in Afghanistan; increasing the capacity of the Afghan Ministry of Interior; alignment of Afghan law with relevant human rights standards” . 

A fairly optimistic observation for a mission whose, at best, all observers agree that the results are (very) “ mixed ». 

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A transition to "liquidate" the mission

Formally, the mission has been extended until September 15, 2017. But if until December 31, 2016, EUPOL Afghanistan acts " in accordance with the objectives of her mandate, from January 1, 2017, she will be in charge of “ proceed with the liquidation of the Mission”. He is the current mission support chief (mission support) EUPOL who will serve as head of mission for the liquidation.

Read also:

• A small team to take over from EUPOL Afghanistan. But 14 million to close the mission!
• EUPOL Afghanistan mission goes into “liquidation” mode

EU-Afghanistan, cooperation continues

« Lhe end of the EUPOL mission is only the end of a chapter. The common journey of the European Union and Afghanistan will continue » specifies the Union Civilian Operations Commander Kenneth Deane. The EU remains committed to contributing to the further development of a sustainable and effective Afghan-led civilian police. « The EU will continue to work with the Afghan government on rule of law and policing, with €44 million disbursed annually through the UNDP-administered Trust Fund in Afghanistan “, underlined Marjeta Jager, in charge of international cooperation and development. €200 million will be disbursed between 2017 and 2019, under the state construction contract which provides direct budget support to Afghanistan and €78 million will be earmarked to support returning Afghans and will be administered through a fund special. 

(Leonor Hubaut)