OPPORTUNITY TO SHORE UP EU EFFORT IN AFGHANISTAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L KABUL 003410 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/22/2019 TAGS: PGOV AF SUBJECT: OPPORTUNITY TO SHORE UP EU EFFORT IN AFGHANISTAN Classified By: PolCouns Annie Pforzheimer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (SBU) This cable is an action request. Please see paragraph 5. ¶2. (C) According to a senior source at the European Union (EU) mission in Kabul, on October 28-29 the EU foreign ministers will take a significant vote on a proposal to initiate a "civilian surge" in Afghanistan. Having spent much of the past years focused on limited police training and other involvement, he said the EU, with Carl Bildt's strong support, is now reconsidering its approach to Afghanistan. Our interlocutor at the EU mission shared with us a draft of the document under consideration and told us he expects it to pass as is. We will pass the draft document to SRAP staff and US-EU. If the resolution passes, the upcoming November 3-4 US-EU Summit in Washington represents an opportunity to urge our European partners to expeditiously fulfill the obligations of this resolution. ¶3. (C) The primary focus of the new EU strategy will be on "strengthening Afghan capacity and ownership" through good governance, especially at the sub-national level, building accountable state institutions, promoting rule of law, and fighting corruption. Reconciliation and reintegration of combatants will also be a key goal. The EU plans to enhance effectiveness by better aligning and coordinating all EU missions in Afghanistan, and will work toward the creation of one single EU representative in Kabul, which would oversee the efforts of both the EUSR and the European Commission Delegation. Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt is championing this new approach. ¶4. (C) A European civilian surge would provide much-needed support, particularly for the governance and development elements of our strategy in Afghanistan. ¶5. (C) Action request: The proposed resolution represents a positive affirmation of policy, but our EU source urged the US to press his organization to put strong will and resources behind implementation. The resolution is likely intended as a positive framework for further discussion at the upcoming US-EU Summit. Our Coordinating Director for Development and Economic Affairs, Ambassador E. Anthony Wayne, will be visiting Washington during the summit and ministerial meetings and could explain in specific terms how increasing US and EU civilian development assistance presence and programs could integrate in support of priority economic and development goals. EIKENBERRY