EU to spotlight Pakistan, Afghanistan in summit series June 17, EU summit June 18-19 (News Feature)

By Ben Nimmo Jun 10, 2009, 2:08 GMT

Brussels - The European Union is set to turn its spotlight firmly on Pakistan and Afghanistan at a series of top-level meetings next week, pushing for more cooperation on trade, democracy and the fight against extremism, according to draft EU documents.

The EU 'attaches great importance to stability in Afghanistan and Pakistan and the wider region,' a declaration drafted for a summit of the leaders of the EU's 27 member states on June 18-19 says.

'The complex and urgent challenges facing Afghanistan and Pakistan ... are closely interlinked and can only be solved through collaboration between those with a stake in the stability, security and development of the region,' it says.

Separately, EU foreign ministers are set to debate relations with Afghanistan and Pakistan both on Monday and on Thursday, urging the bloc's bureaucracy to propose 'additional concrete measures' to boost ties, according to a second draft document.

Between the two debates, top EU officials are set on June 17 to host Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari for the first-ever EU- Pakistan summit in Brussels.

That meeting should focus on issues of security, especially in the war-torn provinces along the Afghan border, human rights, trade and development, and relations with India, according to a third draft also seen by the German Press Agency dpa.

'Violent extremism represents the greatest threat to the security and integrity of Pakistan,' and the two sides 're-affirmed their commitment to fight the scourge of terrorism,' the draft says.

To face the threat, the draft calls for international support for Pakistan's efforts against Taliban-led extremists.

But it also calls for an 'integrated long-term strategy, which includes social economic development, civilian law-enforcement structures and the rule of law, in order to secure the gains of the present counter-insurgency operations on a permanent basis.'

The EU is ready to provide 'further assistance if necessary' to help civilians displaced by recent fighting, on top of the 5.5 million euros (7.6 million dollars) it pledged on May 14, it says.

The June 17-18 EU summit is also set to address the issue of stability in the so-called 'AfPak' region, urging 'the holding of inclusive elections in Afghanistan in line with international standards in order to provide the next Afghan government with the required legitimacy to rule the country.'

The EU 'reconfirms its intention to prominently support the elections by the deployment of a comprehensive election observation mission' for the August 20 poll, the draft says.

The bloc also 'will encourage Pakistan to lift rules that limit intra-regional trade, in particular with India and Afghanistan,' the draft says.

The draft for the EU-Pakistan summit also stresses the latter point, calling for more talks on trade liberalization and possible Pakistan access to an EU preferential tariff regime from 2012.

It further emphasizes the 'importance of efforts to normalize relations with India,' amidst ongoing tensions between the nuclear- armed neighbours.

The EU and Pakistan 'should work together to prevent the proliferation of nuclear materials and technology' and should hold regular expert meetings on non-proliferation, it says.