The Brussels Conference on Afghanistan, with its side events on women empowerment and regional economic integration, the state-building contract signed, as well as a meeting organised by the High Representative/Vice-President of key international and regional partners to step up regional political support to the peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan has demonstrated that a self-reliant, prosperous and peaceful Afghanistan is a priority for the European Union, Afghanistan, its neighbours and the international community at lar ...[+++]ge.

In this context, the Commission and the High Representative have set out the policy framework for a regional strategy, including the fight against Da'esh in a Communication adopted earlier this year, including financial commitments of EUR 1 billion.

13. Encourages neighbouring countries, regional organisations and the international community to pursue their efforts to end the violence; expresses its support for IGAD mediation; welcomes the work of UN Special Representative and head of UNMISS, Hilde Johnson, and the work of the AU, and welcomes the strengthening of UNMISS’s human rights investigation capacities with the support of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights;

I would like to state as a regional representative that our cooperation is exemplary.

22. Stresses the value of EU election observation missions (EOM) as an important step in any process of democratisation and good governance, and believes that such missions should be part of a broader framework of support for a long-term democratisation process; urges the VP/HR to strengthen follow-up procedures and missions to verify whether EOM recommendations are implemented and emphasises, in this respect, that it is crucial to ensure adequate follow-up of the implementation of such recommendations; highlights the importance of mediation and conflict-prevention and resolution strategies, and of institution- and capacity-building for regional organisations, such ...[+++] as the African Union (AU), which plays an important role in peace-keeping and peace-building operations; believes that support for the AU should include the development of its border-control capacity and the provision of relief for all migrants in situations of distress; considers that the effective strengthening of regional organisations, such as the AU, the Union for the Mediterranean or the Eastern Partnership, as multipliers of regional peace and stability will foster regional integration and the emergence of cross-border economic areas;

22. Stresses the value of EU election observation missions (EOM) as an important step in any process of democratisation and good governance, and believes that such missions should be part of a broader framework of support for a long-term democratisation process; urges the VP/HR to strengthen follow-up procedures and missions to verify whether EOM recommendations are implemented and emphasises, in this respect, that it is crucial to ensure adequate follow-up of the implementation of such recommendations; highlights the importance of mediation and conflict-prevention and resolution strategies, and of institution- and capacity-building for regional organisations, such ...[+++] as the African Union (AU), which plays an important role in peace-keeping and peace-building operations; believes that support for the AU should include the development of its border-control capacity and the provision of relief for all migrants in situations of distress; considers that the effective strengthening of regional organisations, such as the AU, the Union for the Mediterranean or the Eastern Partnership, as multipliers of regional peace and stability will foster regional integration and the emergence of cross-border economic areas;