Source: Portuguese NGDO, Newsletter 4
Last November 23rd, at Ponta Delgada, Azores, the AIPA – Azorean Immigrants Association, in collaboration with the newspaper “Açoriano Oriental”, were responsible for the organisation of a conference that sought to promote yet another moment for reflection on the future of the relations between the European Union and Africa.
There is much expectation regarding the EU-Africa Summit which will take place on the 8th and 9th of December, in Lisbon, in the Portuguese Presidency of the European Union framework, since it might be possible, with some political will, to reach a new stage on the relations between the European Union and Africa.
The possibility for the emergence of a solid commitment between the political leaders to the implementation of priorities regarding the African continent will also depend on the Civil Society capacity to create and strengthen spaces for dialogue, synchrony and pressure on these priorities that must be acknowledged and taken into account in the relation between the two continents.
In this context, the conference’s organisation believes that decentralising the discussion floors is a positive aspect that may contribute to effectively engaging the EU in the accomplishment of past and future commitments.
In the “What partnership between the European Union and Africa?” there was further contribution from Civil Society that envisions the successful outcome of the EU-Africa Summit. In order to reinforce and decentralise the discussion floors regarding the main issues of the EU-Africa relation; and in order to contribute to the emergence of accomplishment mechanisms for the already established commitments, this conference was open to the public.
The agenda was divided into two debate panels that took place between the opening and closing sessions. The opening session counted with the presence of AIPA’s Presidente (Paulo Mendes), CPLP’s co-Executive-Secretary (José Tadeu Soares) and the Adviser to the President of the Regional Government for Political Affairs, in representation of the President of the Regional Government. Following the opening session, the first panel counted with the presentations of the CPLP’s co-Executive-Secretary, as well as of the Portuguese NGDO Platform’s EU Presidency Project’s Coordinator (Pedro Krupenski). A debate followed, engaging all members of the assembly, moderated by the Newspaper “Açoriano Oreinatl”’s Executive Director.
The second panel counted with the interventions of the European Parliament’sDeputies: Duarte Freitas, Ilda Figueiredo, Paulo Casaca, as well as of the Bloco de Esquerda’s European Bureau Representative (Pedro Soares). Another debated followed, moderated by Prof. Vasco Garcia (former Parliament Deputy). Ponta Delgada’s Mayor gave a speech at the closing session.
The Conference allowed for a better raise of awareness of the Azorian Civil Society regarding the African reality of the importance of a new relation between the EU and Africa. All interventions, even though they were made by people with different professional experiences, from different society sectors and different political wings, were very consistent and coherent regarding what is expected of the new Europe-Africa relation. It is, undoubtably, a clear sign of hope.
Soon, the Conference’s organisation will draw up a document with all the speakers’ interventions, which will be sent to the EU-Africa Summit’s preparatory Commission.
