KABUL - A top European Union (EU) envoy on Wednesday said the bloc's economy remained strong and promised it would continue supporting turmoil-hit nations -- from Afghanistan to Libya.
EU's Foreign Affairs Chief Catherine Ashton said that despite the bad press being received by the bloc's economy, its economic performance remained steady.

"We are building up the European external action service, including a fully joined-up crisis management system so that we can deliver comprehensive solutions on the ground, be it in Libya or Somalia or Afghanistan.
"I am convinced that Europe must remain actively engaged around the world

and equally that our international work can help to underpin our economic recovery," Ashton said on the eve of Europe Day, which falls on May 9.
"We read a lot in the press about the financial crisis and the economic problems we are facing. But the basis of the European economy remains strong," she reiterated. (Pajhwok)