KABUL (SW): The European Union Delegation to Afghanistan has urged the National Unity Government (NUG) to take immediate measures to stop illegal mining in the country.
Last week, the EU launched an anti-corruption campaign focused on illegal mining in Afghanistan. The EU has urged the Afghan government to appoint a capable and trusted Minister of Mines and Petroleum to revitalize and empower the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum to normalize the mining sector.
It has also stressed upon the need to ensure that the money from existing mining licenses is paid into a single – transparent – government account. Existing mining companies and operations must start sharing their revenue with the Afghan people. Companies that do not pay their taxes voluntarily should have their licenses revoked, it noted.
Among other suggestions, the EU has stressed that the government could re-examine all mining licenses that do not produce income for the Afghan Government, and ensure control over the largest and most active mining operations, where illegal mining is taking place – like the Lapis Lazuli mine in Sar-e-Sang.
Last week, the EU Delegation in Afghanistan launched its 2017 Anti-Corruption Campaign which aims to underscore the important role of awareness raising, prevention and government-citizens partnership as a cross cutting pillar of the fight against corruption. The campaign runs for seven weeks and culminates with a high-level anti-corruption conference early in May.
EU Special Representative in Afghanistan, Ambassador Franz-Michael Mellbin has said despite some progress in the fight against corruption, it remains endemic and poses a real existential threat to Afghanistan, and the ambition to become a self-reliant state.
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