ECDPM aims to share information on the EU-Africa Strategy negotiations, on related events and positions of civil society representatives as well as provide some analysis on the progress of the negotiations. Click here for a brief introduction of the process. Apart from this bulletin, see also: www.europafrica.org
This is the tenth issue of the Europafrica bulletin (click here for the previous issues), which will give you an up-date on the public consultation for a joint EU-Africa Strategy. The bulletin is issued 1-2 times per month. Subscribe by sending an e-mail to: europafrica@ecdpm.org
News
Publication of the Strategy and Action Plan endorsed at the Ministerial Troika
The 9th Africa-EU Troika Ministerial Meeting on 31 October in Accra, Ghana, endorsed a communiqué as well as the Joint Strategy and Action Plan. The joint Strategy and Action Plan will now be presented by the European and African negotiating these documents to their Member States before being presented for endorsement at the EU-Africa Ministerial Meeting in Sharm EL Sheikh on 4-5 December. It should then be adopted by Heads of States and Governments for the Lisbon Summit in December
Joint Strategy – draft 31 October 2007 – doc
Action Plan – draft 31 October 2007 – doc
Press release – pdf
Preparation of the Lisbon Summit
A section on the europafrica website provides links to recent news and views on the upcoming EU-Africa Summit. The Portuguese Presidency of the EU has also set up a webpage listing their related press releases.
The public consultation
Europe-Africa Trade Union Summit
A Trade Union Summit was held on 26-27 October in Lisbon, Portugal, addressing the relationships between Europe and Africa, bringing together more than 60 trade union leaders from Africa and Europe ahead of a European Union – African Union Summit. A final political Declaration will be adopted by the Trade Union Summit in which concrete demands to the EU and the AU will be formulated. The Declaration will include proposals that social dialogue be given a central place in the EU-Africa Strategy as it is a key mechanism of democratic governance.
Download the final declaration (doc) – EN ; FR ; PT
Read more about the meeting
Meeting by the All Africa Conference of Churches and the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa on the joint Strategy
The All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) jointly with the Catholic Church in Africa have undertaken a study to hear the voices of the churches on the EU-Africa Strategy. Consultations have taken place during the last three months with the African ecumenical family consisting of churches, National Councils of Churches, Sub Regional Fellowships and other church related institutions.
Around 50 representatives from African churches and church-related organisations will meet in Accra on 12-13 November to discuss their vision about EU-Africa relations on the basis of the report, with the aim to submit a final report to the Summit in December.
Download the report – pdf
Download the programme – doc
EP-PAP Open Forum on the joint EU-Africa Strategy
An Open Forum was organised by the European Parliament (EP) and the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) on 8 November in Lisbon, in parallel with the European Development Days. The discussion mainly concentrated on the process and the parliamentarians stressed the importance of also being associated in the monitoring and implementation phases. The importance of strengthening formal structures of dialogue with governments and both Commissions was highlighted.
Read more
AWEPA EU Presidency Seminar on the joint EU-Africa Strategy
AWEPA, the North-South Centre of the Council of Europe and the Portuguese Parliament, organised an EU Presidency seminar on Africa in parallel to the European Development Days. It was addressed by European Commissioner Louis Michel and AU Ambassador to the EU, Mahamet Annadif. The debate illustrated that major sensitization will be needed to bring the Joint Strategy closer to the Parliamentary world and to ensure a stronger involvement of Parliamentarians.
Read the ECDPM report
Read a press release from AWEPA
For programme and more information click here
Central African youth consultation on EU-Africa relations
A regional youth consultation was held in Yaoundé, Cameroon, on 24-26 October. The meeting was held in preparation of the Euro-African Youth Summit that will take place on 4-7 December in Lisbon. A final declaration was issued with a specific section adressing EU-Africa relations.
Read more
Alternatives for Africa-Europe’, side-event to Summit November 13, 2007
The event ‘Alternatives for Africa-Europe’ will be organised on the initiative of a group of Portuguese civil society organisations. It will be a public event held on 7-9 December, in parallel with the EU-Africa Summit aiming to highlight some problems of European policy supposed to promote the development of Africa. Four themes will be debated: the environment, agriculture and food security; economics and business; migration; human rights.
Read more
‘Peace and Security in Western Africa – What is the role of the EU-Africa Common Strategy?’
A high-level conference on «Peace and Security in Western Africa – What is the role of the EU-Africa Common Strategy?» was held on 12 November, in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso). Participants included representatives from the Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS), from the African Union, the European Commission and from the Portuguese presidency of the EU Council. Included in the issues to be addressed are good neighbourhood policies, the fight against the proliferation of light weapons, good governance, rule of law, migrations, job creation for young people and the fight against hunger.
Read more on the Portuguese presidency website
Related events
In October/November several regional youth consultations will take place in Africa. See the website of the North-South Centre for more details.
31/10: Joint Ministerial Troika Meeting (Accra, Ghana)
12-13/11: Meeting co-organised by the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) and the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa (SECAM) to discuss their vision about EU-Africa relations in Accra, Ghana
15-17/11: Civil Society Forum on Euro-African Dialogue (Lisbon)
15-17/11: Euro-African Parliamentarian Forum organised by the North South Centre (Lisbon)
19/11 : General Affairs and External Relations Council
29/11: International Conference: ‘On the eve of the EU-Africa-Summit – Creating a true and equal partnership?’ (WEED and Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, Berlin)
4-7/12: EU-Africa Youth Summit (Lisbon)
8-9/12: EU-Africa Summit of Heads of States and Governments (Lisbon)
8-9/12: Side events to the Summit: ’Alternatives for Africa-Europe’
Please let us know of any events that you are planning, so we can put them in the calendar.
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