Africa and the European Union

Latest news about Africa and the European Union

Africa and the EU

France gets EU backing on Mali, offers of military aid — 17 January 2013, 16:56 CET

France won support from European Union nations Thursday for its military campaign in Mali and offers of military aid, possibly including troops, at emergency talks on the crisis.

Mali minister at EU talks warns of 'global threat' — 17 January 2013, 15:50 CET

Mali's Foreign Minister Tieman Coulibaly said Thursday that the presence of Islamists linked to Al-Qaeda in the north of the conflict-torn West African state constitutes a "global threat."

The role of the EU military mission to help Mali's army — 17 January 2013, 15:51 CET

The European Union has no defence force of its own and that is not about to change in Mali despite Thursday's decision to provide trainers for the Malian army.

EU agrees mission to train Mali army, funds for Africa force — 17 January 2013, 15:45 CET

European Union foreign ministers agreed Thursday to quickly dispatch military trainers for Mali's embattled army and fund an African-led intervention force to stem "terrorist" action in the West African nation.

EU nations offer new help to push back Mali jihadists — 16 January 2013, 19:49 CET

European Union nations stepped up offers of help in the campaign against Mali's Islamist rebels Wednesday, with Germany and Italy pledging logistical support a day ahead of key crisis talks.

Euro-MPs regret France left alone in Mali — 15 January 2013, 22:10 CET

Members of the European Parliament Tuesday hailed France's military intervention in Mali while regretting the European Union's failure to take part as a bloc in the battle against West Africa's terrorist groups.

EU to speed up Mali mission at crisis talks — 15 January 2013, 16:12 CET

European Union foreign ministers are set to speed up the dispatch of an EU mission to train Mali's army and discuss how best to back up an African intervention force at extraordinary talks Thursday, diplomats said.

Ashton to join Euro-MPs in urgent Mali debate — 15 January 2013, 13:29 CET

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton will Tuesday join an urgent debate on the situation in Mali with European lawmakers meeting in plenary session in Strasbourg.

Ashton confirms Mali crisis talks this week — 14 January 2013, 23:11 CET

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton on Monday confirmed she had convened an extraordinary meeting of the bloc's foreign ministers to discuss the crisis in Mali.

No combat role for EU military mission in Mali — 14 January 2013, 15:44 CET

The EU's executive stressed Monday there would be no combat role for a 400-strong European Union military training mission in Mali but it will be speeded up due to events, with a launch likely by early February.

Germany urges stepped-up political efforts in Mali — 11 January 2013, 18:48 CET

Germany's foreign minister called Friday for political efforts to be stepped up to resolve the conflict in Mali between government forces and Islamists.

Ashton urges 'accelerated international' action in Mali — 11 January 2013, 18:47 CET

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said Friday that a military offensive by terrorist groups based in northern Mali called for an "enhanced and accelerated" international response.

Moroccan firm chocs up 200,000-euro bill — 10 January 2013, 19:41 CET

While most company executives are anxiously cutting costs in austere times, one Moroccan CEO happily oversaw chocolate purchases worth 35,000 euros last year, a local newspaper reported on Thursday.

EU condemns Mali violence, training mission 'urgent' — 10 January 2013, 18:02 CET

Clashes between Islamist rebels and government forces in Mali only reinforce the need for a planned EU training mission to support Bamako's troops, the European Union said Thursday.

French general to lead EU training force in Mali — 26 December 2012, 22:36 CET

French general Francois Lecointre, a veteran of peacekeeping missions in Africa, will lead an EU mission to train soldiers in Mali, whose north is under the control of Islamists.

EU praises new Mali PM but warns military against meddling — 12 December 2012, 17:16 CET

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton on Wednesday welcomed the naming of Mali's new premier Diango Cissoko as a man of consensus, while warning the Malian military against further meddling.

EU calls for new Mali PM, army to stay out of politics — 11 December 2012, 13:49 CET

EU foreign policy head Catherine Ashton on Tuesday called on Mali to appoint a new prime minister acceptable to all sides and urged the military to cease interfering in political life.

EU approves Mali military training plan — 10 December 2012, 22:02 CET

EU foreign ministers approved Monday plans to deploy an EU military training mission in Mali to help the government regain control of the vast semi-desert north from Islamist rebels.

EU to offer Mali another EUR 20 m in aid — 09 December 2012, 13:12 CET

The European Union said Sunday it would offer another 20 million euros ($26 million) in humanitarian aid for Mali, bringing the total to 101 million euros to help the country cope with the fallout from the loss of control of the north to Islamist rebel forces.

EU appeals for calm as Egypt clashes rage — 05 December 2012, 23:47 CET

The European Union's diplomatic chief called for "calm and restraint" Wednesday as supporters and opponents of Egypt's President Mohamed Morsi clashed over his decision to expand his powers.

European Parliament chief urges economic pressure on Egypt — 06 December 2012, 23:21 CET

The head of the European parliament on Saturday called for a cessation of the bloc's political and economic cooperation with Egypt following its Islamist president's move to expand his powers.

Desmond Tutu rejects Nobel Peace Prize for EU — 30 November 2012, 11:12 CET

Archbishop Desmond Tutu and two other Nobel Peace laureates have written to the foundation in protest at the decision to award the 2012 prize to the European Union.

EU to unfreeze Egyptian, Tunisian assets — 26 November 2012, 23:16 CET

The European Union is lifting its asset freeze on Egyptian and Tunisian funds, imposed as sanctions before the countries' strongmen rulers were ousted in the Arab Spring uprisings.

EU urges Morsi to respect Egypt's democratic process — 23 November 2012, 15:52 CET

The European Union on Friday urged Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi to respect the democratic process after he assumed sweeping powers decried by the opposition as dictatorial.

Morocco solar plant secures EUR 300m loan — 20 November 2012, 11:07 CET

Morocco's pioneering 160-megawatt solar power plant took a step forward on Monday, securing European financing agreements worth 300 million euros ($385 million), or nearly half of the project's cost.