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EU-Africa Strategic Partnership - briefing

02 October 2008
by eub2 -- last modified 02 October 2008

Almost one year on since the launch of a new strategic partnership between the EU and Africa at the Lisbon Summit, the joint College to College meeting highlights the increased partnership between the two institutions. Discussions focused on the priority actions to be taken in areas such as migration, energy and the Millennium Development Goals as well as current concerns surrounding global economic stability and the increase in food prices.


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What is the "EU – Africa Strategic Partnership?" The Joint Africa-EU Strategy was adopted at the EU-Africa Summit in Lisbon (December 2007). It is a political vision and roadmap for the cooperation between the two continents in existing as well as new areas, going beyond the traditional donor-recipient approach, beyond institutions by involving non-State actors, and addressing global challenges such as peace and security, climate change, migration, trade and regional integration.

Concrete actions and goals for the years 2008 – 2010 are outlined in eight Africa-EU Partnerships in the so called First Action Plan.

Why was there a need for a "EU –Africa Strategic Partnership"?

With the establishment of the African Union (AU) in 2002, the EU is now able to discuss pan-African issues with an international organization. It was felt that the time is right to forge a new, politically more mature Africa-EU partnership characterised by equality and the pursuit of common objectives.

What are the eight partnerships about? And what has been achieved since EU-Africa Summit in Lisbon in December 2007?

1. Africa-EU Partnership on Peace and Security:

Africa cannot be left alone to bear the burden of peace support operations. It is for this reason that the EU and Africa agreed to:

  • discuss causes of conflicts and their resolution
  • strengthen the cooperation in case of conflicts, as well as conflict prevention, post-conflict reconstruction and peace building

Examples: Political crises in Kenya, Zimbabwe, Mauritania, peace support for Somalia, the crisis in Darfur and the EU's military mission in Chad-CAR have been discussed between the EU and AU. Preparations have been made to allocate EUR 300 million to AU-led peacekeeping operations in Africa for the period 2008-2010 (under the so called "African Peace Facility").

2. Africa-EU Partnership on Democratic Governance and Human Rights:

The EU is supporting African countries' efforts to become more democratic. This is done by dialogue and cooperation on the following topics: Democratic Governance, human rights, rule of law, fight against corruption and fraud.

Examples: Under the European Development Fund (2008-2013), EUR 2.7 billion have been allocated to those African countries that put forward a Governance Action Plans, indicating the reforms they will undertake. This is an incentive tranche that comes on top of development aid.

3. Africa-EU Partnership on Trade, Regional Integration and Infrastructure:

The EU supports the creation of regional markets in Africa by building on existing regional organizations. This includes assistance in harmonising laws, regulations, procedures and standards. To have better access to international markets, the EU also helps Africa to meet international health and security standards.

Examples: Interim EPAs have been signed with African regional organizations, which open up EU markets for African goods. Starting from 2010, ACP countries will receive EUR 2 billion a year for building roads, pipelines and other infrastructure which connects regional markets. In civil aviation, the EU wishes to set up a real partnership with Africa to work together on regulatory frameworks, air traffic control systems, safety and environmental issues. An EU-Africa Aviation Summit will be organised in Windhoek on 1 December 2008 to give new impetus to the dialogue.

4. Africa-EU Partnership on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs):

This is a forum for policy-dialogue, cooperation and joint actions to achieve the MDGs across Africa by 2015.

Examples: In June 2008, the EU Heads of State and Government confirmed their promise to nearly double the EU's overall development assistance between 2004 – 2010 from EUR 34.5 billion to EUR 67 billion. At least 50 % of this increase will go to sub-Saharan Africa. The European Commission proposed to the 27 EU Member States that a 'Food Facility' of up to €1 billion be allocated to support agricultural production in developing countries in 2008 and 2009.

5. Africa-EU Partnership on Energy:

This will strengthen dialogue on access to energy and energy security, to improve services and increase investment in infrastructure, including the promotion of renewable energy resources and energy efficiency.

Examples: In 2008, several energy projects have been or will be contracted. These include: Constructions of 350 Biogas plants for rural households, schools and hospitals (EUR 1.9 million), electrification of 60 rural health centres using solar energy in Mozambique (EUR 1.9 million) as well as 10 windmills and 10 solar powered water systems, 10,000 improved cooking stoves for more than 250,000 Somali people (EUR 2 million).

6. Africa-EU Partnership on Climate Change:

The EU and Africa cooperate in the field of climate change and work together on an agenda on policies. Priority is also given to addressing land degradation and increasing aridity in Africa.

Examples: The Commission has set aside EUR 50 million in additional resources to help developing countries adapt to effects of climate change. This sum is to kickstart the Global Climate Change Alliance. Together with existing EC funding for climate-related activities, the Alliance could benefit from some 300 millions Euros over the period 2008-2010. Under the "Green Wall for the Sahara Initiative", the EU and African states are to build together a ‘green wall’ of trees across the vast Sahara to push back desertification and to secure agriculture and livelihoods in the sahelo-saharan zone.

7. Africa-EU Partnership on Migration, Mobility and Employment:

This partnership will ensure that the positive links between migration and development are better managed and that employment issues become part of development strategies of African countries. It includes cooperation in migration management, recognition of the positive role of African diasporas and co-operation in the fight against illegal migration.

Examples: In October 2008, the first migration and information centre will be opened in Mali. It will help the Malian government to design a migration policy, inform potential migrants about legal migration within Africa and to Europe.

8. Africa-EU Partnership on Science, Information Society and Space:

This partnership aims at a more sustainable, accessible, affordable and effective African ICT infrastructure.

Examples: The AU has proposed 19 Lighthouse projects for implementation of this partnership. The 19 lighthouse projects have been identified and designed by the African Union Commission (AUC) to respond to African needs. They will help to build the continent’s capacities to harness, apply and develop science and technology in order to eradicate poverty, fight diseases, stem environmental degradation, and improve economic competitiveness.

6 of the 19 projects have been identified for rapid implementation including:

In the ICT area, two projects related to enhancing internet use and connection in Africa ("Africa Connect" and the "African Internet Exchange System");

In Science, two projects aiming at helping African Union to develop its own scientific resources. The "African Research Grants" project will help the AUC to set up an African framework programme for research. In the "Water and Food security in Africa" project, the Nile Basin will serve as a pilot case for research and demonstration activities to tackle food supply problems and effective water and land management.

In the Space field, the GMES-Africa project aims reinforce Africa’s use of, and contribution to, remote sensing science, especially through building of operational systems. A second project will enhance capacity building in the AUC on Geospatial science. Technology transfer to the AUC will focus on establishing a mirror of the Africa Observatory for Sustainable Development based in Europe's Joint Research Centre (JRC) which provides scientific information on natural resources, food security, crisis management and renewable energies.

Source: European Commission

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