Brussels Conference on Afghanistan 4-5 October 2016

The European Union i and the government of Afghanistan co-host the Brussels Conference on Afghanistan on 4-5 October 2016, bringing together more than 70 countries and 20 international organisations and agencies.

The European Union and the government of Afghanistan co-host the Brussels Conference on Afghanistan on 4-5 October 2016, bringing together more than 70 countries and 20 international organisations and agencies.

The aim of the conference is to endorse a realistic programme of reforms to bring about the Afghan government's vision and to ensure continued international political and financial support for political and economic stability, state-building and development over the coming four years.

The conference is taking place under the patronage of President of the European Council Donald Tusk and President of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani, who will open the event.

The High Representative/Vice President Federica Mogherini co-chairs the conference on behalf of the EU along with Neven Mimica, European Commissioner for Development Cooperation.

Commissioner Mimica will also sign a State-Building Contract, alongside the Minister of Finance of Afghanistan, Eklil Ahmad Hakimi. The State-Building Contract will provide €200 million in budget support to the Government of Afghanistan, providing the authorities to finance their own strategic development priorities and policies.

Just ahead of the conference, on 3 October, the European Union and Afghanistan reached an important political arrangement, "The EU-Afghanistan Joint Way Forward on Migration issues", to effectively tackle the challenges in both the European Union and Afghanistan linked to irregular migration.