The European Union will continue contributing at least 200 million euros (247 million dollars) annually in development aid for Afghanistan until 2025, but expects Kabul to also deliver, EU Development Commissioner Andris Piebalgs said Friday, according to AP. His comments came two days before an international conference in Tokyo on Afghanistan's development plans between 2015 to 2025. Foreign combat troops are set to withdraw from the country in 2014. "Afghanistan needs to take full ownership of the reconstruction of its country. The EU has the firm intention to stand alongside Afghanistan in this process, together with the international community," Piebalgs said in a statement before travelling to Tokyo. "However, Afghanistan needs to fully live up to its commitments by reforming its public finance management, its public administration and its economy while fighting corruption," he added. "The government must reinforce its credibility." The EU funds will be earmarked for health, education and governance programmes, he said. The bloc has already contributed more than 2billion euros to Afghanistan over the last decade. The largest contributor for development aid in Afghanistan is the United States, with around 2 billion dollars budgeted for 2010-11, according to USAID, the country's assistance agency. -- SPA
