Contribute to a stronger Europe-Africa partnership
For the first time, the European Union and the African Union have decided to develop a joint strategy in order to develop a common political vision for the future partnership between the EU and Africa. The joint Strategy is to be adopted at the planned EU-Africa Summit in late 2007. This joint Strategy should reflect the needs and aspirations of the peoples of Africa and Europe. [more]
A public consultation
In the year ahead, leading up to the Summit in Lisbon, AU and EU institutions are organizing a broad-based public debate that will generate ideas and suggestions from a large diversity of state and non-state actors. The joint strategy that emerges from this process should therefore not just be a strategy for and by officials, but also one to which civil society on both continents can relate, contribute and support in their own work. This consultation is an opportunity for all stakeholders to influence the debate on the future of EU-Africa relations.
The public consultation will take place across the Internet and in various events organized on both continents. It will be organized in different phases: The first until the end of March will focus on agenda setting to allow all the concerns and priorities of different stakeholders to be put on the table for subsequent discussion.
The first report from the Internet consultation will be submitted to the two Commissions at the end of March. For more information on the timeline, please see the calendar.
Frequently asked questions:
Organisers of the consultation / Who can participate? / Why this consultation? / The basis for the consultation / Consultation timeline / Opportunities offered by the consultation / Limitations to the consultation / How will the consultation take place? / Getting progress updates / About the web site / How to participate
You are invited to participate
The consultation process is open to all stakeholders and is being facilitated by the European Centre for Development Policy Management. It will encourage participation, liaise with all the interested parties, feed in ideas and information and help take forward the discussion by summarising ideas brought forward, stimulating debate and feeding in new angles and issues.
ECDPM is aware of the pitfalls of this kind of consultation and will ensure that contributions are properly used. In particular it will ensure that there is a strong and dynamic link between the public debate and the official process and the negotiators are kept fully appraised. Any suggestions to improve the facilitation of the debate are always welcome.
The ECDPM facilitation will be led by Marie-Laure de Bergh, Sara Erlandsson and James Mackie, with contributions by other staff members on specific topics.
If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact us at: europafrica@ecdpm.org
Thanks for this opportunity to participate on agenda setting. I should like to suggest that we should look back on what the civil society involved on EU and Africa relations have been doing even before the cotonou agreement in that revisiting we have all seen that everything collapse under EPAs. we can also link the EPAs with bilateral trade and investment agreements. At the end, as is being suggested we can discuss but that should not be the ultimate task as there is a need to act in solidarity. That means along the year we have to agree on a Plan of Action part of this work is done (just look to the global EPA days of action)