2:55 p.m.

The European Union has sealed a deal with Afghanistan to speed the return of Afghans who do not qualify for asylum, just ahead of a donor conference in Brussels for the conflict-torn country.

Under the deal announced Monday, Afghanistan commits to readmit citizens not permitted to stay in Europe and supply travel documents for migrants without papers within a month.

The costs for sending people back will be covered by the EU.

At an international donors’ conference on Wednesday, the EU is expected to pledge 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) a year to Afghanistan through till 2020.

The efficient handling of migrants does not appear to be a condition for receiving the funds.