EU’s new anti-terror programme to focus on Afghanistan, Pakistan
April 18th, 2009 - 1:40 am ICT by IANSBrussels, April 17 (IANS) The European Commission Friday announced a new three-year programme to fight terrorism, drug trafficking and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in Southeast Asia and Africa.
Pakistan, Afghanistan and the Sahel region in Africa will be the priority areas for the European Union’s (EU) 2009-2011 anti-terrorism programme, the EuAsiaNews reported.
“The European Commission has an important role to play in fighting terrorism by supporting capacity building in countries such as Pakistan and in the Sahel region,” External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said.
“In the area of non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction our ambition is to consolidate the work already carried out in the former Soviet Union and focus more on new regions of concern such as the Middle East, South and South-East Asia,” she added.
The programme will also tackle the threat of piracy in critical maritime routes such as the Gulf of Aden.
With an estimated budget of 225 million euros (about $293 million), the programme is designed to address the broad range of threats outlined in the European Security Strategy and complement actions funded by other EU instruments and member states.
- Pakistan key focus under EC's new plan on terror and nuclear proliferation - Apr 18, 2009
- 2009 crucial for India to fight global challenges: EU - Jun 26, 2009
- EU, Russia sign pacts to develop border regions - Nov 19, 2009
- EU Troika-India to meet in Prague - Jun 26, 2009
- EU to send 100-member team to observe Afghan elections - Jul 13, 2009
- India, EU ink nuclear pact, to have trade treaty by 2010 - Nov 06, 2009
- EU offers over $138 mn in aid to Pakistan - Jun 17, 2009
- EU urges Russia to keep moratorium on death penalty - Nov 13, 2009
- Engaging India, China a challenge: Pentagon nominee - Nov 19, 2011
- India seeks global initiatives for energy security - Jun 18, 2009
- India, European Union review bilateral relations in Brussels - Oct 04, 2010
- India, Europe Union review bilateral relations in Brussels - Oct 04, 2010
- EU asks Pakistan to cooperate in Mumbai attack investigation - Dec 09, 2008
- India, EU to hold 10th summit Nov 6 - Jun 30, 2009
- EU condoles Naina Devi temple stampede deaths - Aug 04, 2008
Tags: afghanistan pakistan, ambition, benita ferrero waldner, capacity building, drug trafficking, european commission, european security, fighting terrorism, former soviet union, gulf of aden, maritime routes, member states, non proliferation, priority areas, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, sahel region, security strategy, south east asia, southeast asia, weapons of mass destruction