The US unleashed a furious barrage of criticism at the EU today, accusing it of endangering Afghan refugees by not giving enough food and monetary assistance to UN operations in Afghanistan.
The EU's executive body, the European Commission, through "hopeless" bureaucracy and apparent stinginess is falling well short of contributing its "fair share" of assistance, a senior State Department official said.
"Our donor state allies, especially in the European Union, are not doing their fair share," said Mr Gene Dewey, the assistant secretary of state for population, refugees and migration.
In Brussels, a spokeswoman for the European Commission rejected the criticism as "not exact" and said Europe was "actively doing its share" in the Afghanistan aid effort.
"Any idea that the EU, and particularly the Commission, is not doing its share is simply not exact," said Ms Emma Udwin.
"We are very actively doing our share, which can be measured by the money given or by examples on the ground," she added.
Commission officials recalled that the European Union - member states and the commission - contributes one fourth to the reconstruction of Afghanistan, with half of the funds coming from the Commission.
In 2002 payments were to reach $200 million but will eventually total $250 million, of which $60 million will be dedicated to humanitarian assistance, up from the $35 million initially planned.
AFP