EU announces further support for development of Afghanistan

 The European Commission Saturday announced a new development funding of 1.4 billion euro to Afghanistan for the period 2014-2020.
The funds will focus on vital sectors such as rural development and agriculture, health, and strengthening democracy in the country, it said in a statement.
The signature of the development programme between EU Commissioner for Development, Andris Piebalgs, and the National Economic Adviser to President Ghani, Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal, took place on Friday in Washington, in the margins of the annual meeting of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
"This agreement is evidence of the EU's continues long-term commitment to Afghanistan. We expect these funds to create the conditions necessary to improve Afghan citizens' livelihoods, by creating jobs, further strengthening Afghanistan's institutions, and better enabling the population to have their say," said Piebalgs.
The EU will focus its support to Afghanistan in the next seven years on the development of agriculture and rural sectors, health, physical and legal security for citizens and greater democratisation, he noted.