Press Release: The EU Police Mission in Afghanistan comes to a successful close after nine years of progress

EUPOL Afghanistan is a civilian mission, operated from 2007 to the 31 December 2016 under the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). Its support delivered by police experts from the EU and other contributing countries, advised the Afghan Ministry of Interior Affairs and the Ministry of Justice.

EUPOL Afghanistan achieved concrete progress in several key areas: the professionalisation of the Afghan National Police; the introduction of the community policing concept to Afghanistan; increasing the capacity of the Afghan Ministry of Interior; and bringing Afghan legislation in line with relevant human rights standards.

Although EUPOL Aghanistan finished on the 31 December 2016, the European Union remained committed to support Afghanistan in the field of civilian policing and contributing to the further development of sustainable and effective civilian policing arrangements under Afghan ownership.

• Primary Source