The EU politician said that although the bloc cannot give money to Afghanistan directly, since several ministers of the interim government are on the US terrorist list, member states can do so through the UN agencies…reports Asian Lite News.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has said that the bloc needs to work towards preventing a new refugee crisis in Europe by averting the economic collapse of Afghanistan.
“We thought we would have an acute [migration] crisis because of Afghanistan, but it has not yet happened. And it will not happen if we prevent the economic collapse of the country. 75 per cent of the Afghan budget comes from foreign transfers. And now they are all frozen,” Borrell said in an interview with Spanish newspaper El Pais published on Monday, as quoted by Sputnik news agency.
“Economic collapse can occur. We have to prevent it, without recognising or supporting the government as such,” he added.
The EU politician said that although the bloc cannot give money to Afghanistan directly, since several ministers of the interim government are on the US terrorist list, member states can do so through the UN agencies.
“If we want girls to go to schools, there must be schools first,” Borrell said.
He further stressed that the EU is particularly concerned about the issue of Afghan refugees since migration is not only a huge problem for the Union but also one of the biggest dividing forces within the bloc.
Earlier this month, Borrell had said Afghanistan is facing a “serious humanitarian crisis and a socio-economic collapse is looming” that will prove to be dangerous for the region and international security.
“Afghanistan is experiencing a serious humanitarian crisis and a socio-economic collapse is looming, which would be dangerous for Afghans, the region and international security,” Borrell wrote in a blog post.
Borrell had said that there are many signs that the situation in Afghanistan is getting worse.
Meanwhile, the EU has said that continued terrorist attacks in Afghanistan are a serious obstacle to a stable and peaceful country, where all Afghan citizens can feel safe and secure.
This comes after a bomb exploded at a Shia mosque in Kunduz province during a Friday prayer. The attack was claimed by Islamic State in Khorasan Province (ISKP) and resulted in more than 150 casualties.
“The European Union mourns with the families of the victims and wishes those injured a full and speedy recovery,” said Peter Stano, spokesperson of European Union External Action Service (EEAS)
The spokesperson stressed that the ISKP should be brought to justice and noted that the human rights of all Afghan citizens, including the right to life and the rights of ethnic and religious minorities must be respected.
“Continued terrorist attacks are a serious obstacle to a stable and peaceful Afghanistan, where all Afghan citizens can feel safe and secure. The European Union remains committed to peace and stability in Afghanistan and to supporting its people,” Stano added.
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