The European Union invites young Afghan leaders to apply for the European Union Visitors Programme - EUVP a unique opportunity to experience Europe from within, gaining a first-hand appreciation of the European Union’s institutions, its achievements, goals and prospects, increasing mutual understanding between professionals from non-EU countries and their EU counterparts. The European Union Visitors Programme - EUVP was launched in Afghanistan in 2004. Since then, it has provided study tours to Europe for seven young Afghans leaders.

What is EUVP?
The EUVP was established in 1974 by the European Parliament and the European Commission. It is governed by a Steering Committee under the joint Chairmanship of Mr Alego Vidal-Quadras Roca, Vice-President of the European Parliament, and Mrs Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Member of the European Commission.

The EUVP is jointly sponsored and administered by the European Parliament and the European Commission. An EUVP visit consists of an individual 5 to 8 day programme of meetings with EU officials at the EU institutions in Brussels and/or Strasbourg. All programs are coordinated and arranged by the EUVP Secretariat rather than by individual participants. EUVP will cover the participants’ travel, accommodation expenses and health insurance throughout the trip.

Who is eligible to participate?
Those eligible to participate are politicians and members of Parliament, government officials (at central or provincial level), journalists, trade unionists, academics and educators, officials of nonprofit, non-governmental organizations and other professionals aged in their mid-20s to mid-40s with career-related interests in the European Union. Please note that the EUVP is not designed as a programme for students, its participants are required to have completed their university education or equivalent training and to have been employed for several years in their chosen career field. EUVP candidates are selected from a large number of non-EU countries throughout the world. The total number of visitors worldwide is generally about 160. Non-Afghan applicants should contact the Commission Delegation in the country in which they reside.

How are participants selected?
EUVP participants are selected by a committee chaired jointly by the European Parliament and the European Commission. One to three visitors from Afghanistan are selected each year.

What is the application process?
The Delegation of the European Commission to Afghanistan is responsible to deal with applications from Afghans, living and working in Afghanistan. Applications should be addressed to:

EUVP Coordinator
Delegation of the European Commission to Afghanistan Char-rahi Sedarat, Shahr-e-Naw (opposite Ministry of Interior), Kabul

Please apply using the dedicated form downloadable from the Delegation website. More information about the programme and the application form can be found at: http://www.delafg.ec.europa.eu/en/press_information/euvp.htm The deadline for applications is 15 April 2008, 16:00 hours Kabul time. Emailed applications are accepted at delegation-afghanistan-press@ec.europa.eu but must be followed by originals in hard copy.

EU Background
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union (EU). The European Commission and the 27 Member States of the European Union have pledged together a € 3,7 billion in aid to Afghanistan over five years (2002-2006), more than one third of the aid pledged by the international community. At the London Conference in spring 2006, the EU pledged collectively a further €2 billion for reconstruction assistance to Afghanistan over the coming years. End.

For further information please contact:
Nazer Nazir
0799 15 59 74
nazer.nazir@ec.europa.eu