This year’s first AWEPA conference was titled ‘The role of the new EU Member States in EU-Africa Development Policy’ and provided some information in how far the new EU Member States are involved in the implementation of the Africa-EU Joint Strategy in particular and in shaping EU-Africa Relations in general.
The Slovenian, being this year’s host of the European Union in the first half of 2008, has little experience in the area of development cooperation but nevertheless it is a growing in terms of interests and importance. At the moment, Slovenia and most of the other Eastern European EU Member Countries are directing their development aid to the neighbourhood, namely the Western Balkan countries. Yet, currently the eastern countries are expanding their development cooperation sector and are willing to invest more in Africa to reach the MDGs. The new strategic partnership between the EU and Africa is a particular chance and challenge for the smaller countries in Africa and in particular Europe.
Thus, for most Eastern European Countries the new strategic partnership offers a unique multilateral framework for dialogue and cooperation which complements the rather yet limited but strong bilateral possibilities and resources. Therefore, it is of utmost importance for the new EU members to contribute to the Joint Strategy, bring added value and establish a Eastern European vision towards it. However, most of the new EU member states are in the process of identifying a position towards the implementation of the Africa-EU Strategy.
The Conference has shown that there is a need for the new EU Member States to be involved in the implementation phase of the Africa-EU Joint Strategy, although they have a rather limited capacity. At the conference, the parliamentarians and other policy officer recommended to promote the debate and to participate in implementation and monitoring of the Joint Africa-EU Strategy and Paris Declaration as well as to prepare and participate in the 3rd High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness.
Seminar presentations - html
Concept Paper – pdf
Recommendations – pdf
ODA Resolutions – pdf
