The Hague  - The European Commission said Tuesday it was providing 60 million euros (80 million dollars) in additional funds to Afghanistan to support the country's elections, its police force and its farmers.

The money is being added to the commission's existing 700-million-euro fund for the 2007-10 period, External Affairs Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said at a UN conference in The Hague.

About a third of this extra money will go to help Afghanistan hold elections in August, in which President Hamid Karzai is vying for a new term in office.

The European Union is also considering sending an election observation mission to the country, "but only if security conditions allow," Ferrero-Waldner said.

The commissioner made the announcement at the start of an international conference on Afghanistan, in which US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton was expected to outline her administration's new strategy for the region.

"The question now is: how we can join in," Ferrero-Waldner said.

The conference - named "A comprehensive strategy in a regional context" - is being attended by more than 70 countries, including India, Pakistan and Iran.

Ferrero-Waldner praised Iran's participation at the "big tent" meeting, describing it as "a very good starting point."

Iran is a big consumer of Afghan opium.

Since 2002, Brussels has donated some 1.6 billion euros to Afghanistan. The money has been used to improve the country's health care, build roads, pay policemen's salaries and provide seeds to farmers. (dpa)