BRUSSELS, July 29 (AFP) - The European Commission on Thursday approved an extra nine million euros to help fund upcoming elections in Afghanistan, which it called "an important milestone" for the war-scarred country.
The new money will be channelled through the United Nations' elections project in Afghanistan, to which the EU is the single biggest donor. Total EU funding for the polls amounts to 80 million euros, said the Commission.
"The holding of presidential elections - now scheduled for October 2004 - is the next important milestone for Afghanistan on its road to a democratic future," said the EU executive.
It underlined that Afghanistan has no tradition or experience of democratic elections.
"Providing the necessary personnel, materials and security is an enormous challenge, and substantial support from the International Community is necessary," said a Commission statement.
More than eight million ordinary Afghans -- 80 percent of eligible voters -- have registered to vote in the country's first free and fair elections in October.