A ECFR report on Europe's role in Afghanistan notes the "silent surge" of European troops into Afghanistan over the last two years. European troops have gone from 17,433 (November 2006) to 26,389 (March 2009). There are 7 Irish troops in those.
Considering all foreign troops in Afghanistan, Europe accounts for 43% and the US for 47%.
Europe also continues to provide aid. Since 2002, the European Commission (EC) pledged about €1.5 billion and has so far disbursed €1 billion. Ireland has pledged €16 million and disbursed €8 million.
In addition, since 2007, the EU has had in place a European security and defence policy (ESDP) mission known as EUPOL Afghanistan, which advises and trains the Afghan National Police (ANP). EUPOL Afghanistan has set up emergency teams to deal with kidnapping, organised crime, intelligence and anti-corruption. In May 2008, EU foreign ministers decided to double EUPOL’s staff to 400.
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