This is the 21st issue of the Europafrica bulletin, which will give you an up-date on the implementation process of the Joint EU-Africa Strategy. The bulletin is issued 1-2 times per month. Subscribe by sending an e-mail to: europafrica@ecdpm.org.
News
EC Communication: One year after Lisbon: The Africa-EU partnership at work
The European Commission has officially published its communication ‘One year after Lisbon: The Africa-EU partnership at work’.
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EC Communication: The EU, Africa and China: Towards trilateral dialogue and cooperation
The European Commission has officially published its communication on ‘EU, Africa, China: Towards trilateral dialogue and cooperation’ where it foresees a stronger cooperation on peace and security, infrastructure, environment and sustainable management or resources and on food security and agricultural production.
Read the communication – pdf
Read the annexes for modalities of the trilateral partnership - pdf
2008 budget: decision on €1 billion food aid for developing countries postponed
Members of the Budgets Committee decided on Monday to postpone their vote on the financing of €1 billion in food aid for the developing countries planned for 2008, a move that would have required an amendment to this year’s budget.
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Commission told to re-think Barroso’s billion
European Commission President José Manuel Barroso’s plan to give €1 billion of unspent Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) money to farmers in poor countries is in disarray, with both MEPs and member states demanding major changes says Jim Brunsden in the European Voice.
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EU-China-Africa: Commission’s paper tiger shuns the divisive issues
The EU should only take China seriously if it can demonstrate a strong commitment to a unified aid policy says Jonathan Holslag in the European Voice Online.
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Trilateral Partnership: EU seeks to work with China in Africa
The European Union and China put aside their rivalry in Africa and will work together to develop infrastructure and ensure natural resources are well managed says news agency Reuters.
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European Economic and Social Committee opinion on the EU-Africa Strategy
The European Economic and Social Committee has written on the request of Louis Michel, Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, an opinion on the EU-Africa Strategy. The Section for External Relations, which was responsible for preparing the Committee’s work on the subject, adopted its opinion on 17 July 2008. The rapporteur was Mr Dantin. At its 447th plenary session, held on 17 and 18 September 2008 (meeting of 18 September 2008), the European Economic and Social Committee adopted the following opinion by 89 votes to none, with no abstentions.
Read the opinion – doc
European Commission – Jean Monnet Programme
The worldwide programme to promote teaching and learning in EU issues has launched its new 2009 “call for proposals” from institutions of higher education. For the Jean Monnet programme specifically all countries and regions are eligible to apply, including those in Africa. For further information click here
Global Financial Crisis may set back the poorest: less aid might be possible
World finance and development ministers warned on Sunday that developing countries risked serious and lasting setbacks from the global financial crisis and urged major economies to deliver on aid pledges says the news agency Reuters.
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The global financial crisis will hit trade between China and Africa
The global financial crisis will hit trade between China and Africa, but Beijing will keep expanding its investment in the continent to maintain strong ties, senior officials said on Thursday last week to Reuters News agency.
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European Parliament recognizes the need to support developing countries in their fight against climate change
The European Parliament’s Environment Committee voted on the ETS Directive to use 50% of the auctioning revenues generated from the emission permits for developing countries to tackle climate change via an international fund says Oxfam International and welcomes the decision made.
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New trade Commissioner following Peter Mandelson return to UK Politics
On the 20th of October, the EP’s International Trade Committee is organising a hearing in Strasbourg for the new Commissioner, Baroness Cathy Ashton, who takes over the trade portfolio in the Commission following Peter Mandelson’s return to UK politics. The Committee will play an active role in this hearing and will want to know Ms Ashton’s stance on a number of development-related trade issues, such as Economic Partnership Agreements and the Doha Development Agenda.
More information on the new trade commissioner – html
Briefing on ‘The EU, Africa and China: opportunities and challenges of a trilateral cooperation’, Brussels, Belgium
A briefing for parliamentarians and policy-makers on ‘The EU, Africa and China: opportunities and challenges of a trilateral cooperation’ has taken place on 29 October in Brussels, Belgium. It is organised by the EDC2020 (’European development co-operation to 2020′) project, funded under the ‘Socio-economic Sciences and Humanities’ Theme of the Seventh Framework Programme.
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KAS and HSS Conference on the Joint Africa-EU Partnership on Democratic Governance and Human Rights
The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) and the Hanns-Seidel-Stiftung (HSS) jointly organized a conference on the Joint Africa-EU Strategy with a focus on the 2nd Partnership ‘ Governance and Human Rights from the 28th October 2008 until the 29th October at the European Office of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, Avenue de l’Yser 11, 1040 Brussels.
Programme – pdf
The African’s Union’s ECOSOCC: An Overview by Francis Ikome
This brief examines the objectives, mandate and institutional challenges of ECOSOCC. It begins with a brief background to its establishment and proceeds to locate it within the overall architecture of the AU.
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African Diaspora Policy Centre Factsheet on the Joint Africa-EU Strategy
The Joint Africa-EU Strategic Partnership provides a long-term vision of collaboration between Africa and the EU for the benefit of Africa and Europe. This factsheet looks at how the diaspora can contribute to the implementation of the Joint Africa-EU Strategic Partnership.
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Strengthening the EU’s Comprehensive migration policy: new initiatives of the European Commission on the Global Approach to migration
The Commission adopted new initiatives to reinforce the EU’s comprehensive approach to migration. It includes a Communication on “Strengthening the global approach to migration: increasing coordination, coherence and synergies”, a Report to the 2008 Ministerial Conference on Integration on “Strengthening actions and tools to meet integration challenges” and a Communication reporting on the application of Directive 2003/86 on the right to family reunification.
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A billion euro for the food crisis? Decision to be taken in budget conciliation
The Development Committee has reaffirmed its support on Tuesday for using budget surpluses – unused appropriations – in the EU’s agriculture budget to help counter the food crisis in developing countries. 35 priority countries should benefit from this support. The doubts concerning the budgetary procedure and the exceptional nature of the proposal have not, however, been resolved by this vote. The final decision will be taken in the budgetary conciliation meeting of 21 November says the official website of the European Parliament.
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Rich countries should do more for poor says EU Development commissioner
The global financial crisis, rising gas prices and climate change means richer countries should do more to help poorer nations, European development commissioner Louis Michel said Monday during the opening ceremony of the new established Centre for Migration and Management, the CIGEM (Centre d’Information et de Gestion des Migrations) in Bamako, Mali.
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European Parliament votes on Food Facility on the 7th of October 2008
The Development Committee votes on the Food Facility — a plan to use a €1-billion CAP underspend to help the victims of the food crisis with fertilizers, seeds and immediate basic food needs on the 7th of October in Brussels. More information will be provided soon.
Mitchell report on the Food Facility- pdf
EU/AU Joint Statement on “Implementation of the EU-AU Partnership for Science, Information Society and Space” – Presentation of the 19 “Lighthouse” Projects
The European Commission (EC) and the African Union Commission (AUC) agreed on an EU / Africa Strategic Partnership during the EU/ AU Summit in Lisbon in December 2007. 8 thematic partnerships were identified, the 8th of these being the partnership for Science, ICT, and Space.
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Science, ICT & Space: African Union Commission and European Commission launch 6 lighthouse common projects
Science and Technology are key to developing solutions to Africa’s major challenges. Thus, at the College-to- College Meeting both partners came together to agree on common projects for the 8th Partnership, Science, Information and Space.
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4th College-to College meeting between European Commission and African Union Commission
Almost one year since the launch of a new strategic partnership between the EU and Africa at the Lisbon Summit,the joint College to College meeting highlighted the increased partnership between the two institutions. Discussions have 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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Angola: Country in Brussels to Attend African Union’s Meeting on Peace Plan
The Angolan ambassador accredited in Ethiopia and in the African Union (AU), Manuel Augusto, arrived this Wednesday, the 1st of October 2008, in Brussels (Belgium), to represent the country at a meeting which will analyse the implementation of the African Union peace and security plan says AllAfrica.
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Readings
How Europe should tackle the global food crisis – by Michel Barnier/October 2008
Against a backdrop of soaring food prices and famine threats in some of the world’s poorest nations, Michel Barnier argues that the time has come for Europe to take the lead by introducing collective international action and regulation.
Responding to the Global Food Crisis: Three Perspectives – IFPRI 2007-2008 Annual Report Essays by Joachim von Braun, Josette Sheeran, and Namanga Ngongi/September 2008
The dramatic rise and volatility of food prices over the last year have shaken the global food system. Governments and the international development community generally have responded to various aspects of the food crisis, but questions remain about whether the right actions are being pursued, how best to respond, and what the future holds.
Union africaine : retour sur la troisième réunion du collège des commissaires UE-UA – Emile Fidieck/20 October 2008
Conduite par son président, M. Jean Ping, une délégation de la Commission de l’Union africaine (UA) a séjourné à Bruxelles, la semaine dernière, où elle a participé à une réunion conjointe des Commissions de l’UA et de l’Union européenne (UE).
Seule l’Afrique pourra régler ses problèmes, selon les “sages” de l’UA
Le président du Groupe des sages de l’Union africaine (UA), Ahmed Ben Bella, a mis l’accent, dimanche à Alger, sur l’impératif de restaurer la paix, la stabilité et la réconciliation sur le continent africain par des solutions africaines.
Union européenne : Sarkozy veut prolonger sa présidence d’un an
Nicolas Sarkozy veut profiter de la crise financière pour imposer sa vision économique de l’Europe et continuer à présider l’Union européenne (UE) au niveau de la zone euro, au moins pour une année supplémentaire
Upcoming Events
26-31/10: CTA ANNUAL SEMINAR 2008-The Implications of global climate change for sustainable agricultural production systems in ACP countries: the right information and communication strategies (Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso)
27.10- 28.10 International conferences on the role of national platforms, Coordination Sud
27-30.10 The future of European development policies – European-level meeting of NGOs (Paris, France)
29-30.10 Europe viewed by the rest of the world, Coordination Sud and Concord
31.10 Beyond Gleneagles and Accra: Smart aid for African development, ODI, 111 Westminster Bridge Road, London, SE1 7JD
31.10. – 02.11 2008 Civil Forum – Euromed Non-Governmental Platform (Marseilles, France)
10-11.11.2008 GAERC Meeting of Development Ministeries (France, Paris)
15.11-17.11. 2008 European Development Days (Strasburg, France)
17-18.11.2008 Citizens, Europe and international solidarity, Corrdination Sud
20.11-21.11 Africa-EU Troika Ministerial Meeting (Dar es Salam, Tanzania)
23-28.11.2008 Conference on Ecological Agriculture- Mitigating climate change, providing prosperity and self-reliance for rural livelihoods in Africa, African Union, Addis, Ethiopia
25.11 – 28.11 A joint meeting of the Bureau and the three Standing Committees of the ACP-EU JPA together with the EP ad hoc Delegation for relations with the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) and the PAP ad hoc Committee for relations with the EP, 16th session to be held in Port Moresby ( Papua New Guinea)
26-28.11.2008 Security and Sustainable Rural Development in Africa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Organised by the African Union, UN Food and Agriculture Organization and Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development In collaboration with the Institute for Sustainable Development, Ethiopia and Third World Network (Ethiopia, Addis Ababa)
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