Within the framework of the Peace and Security partnership there are three priority action.
1) An enhanced dialogue on challenges to peace and security
the Commission has participated in political dialogue meetings such as AU PSC-EU PSC meeting (30.09.2008) and will be organising a EU-AU Defence Ministers Troika (20.11.2008) and Foreign Ministers Troika (21.11.2008)
The services (DG DEV and RELEX) will also participate in joint assessment missions, in particular in view of monitoring APF-funded Peace Support Operations (PSOs). The Sahel region has been identified for a first informal joint assessment in the field of collective security and preventive diplomacy with a view to anticipating security challenges there
The cooperation with the Centre Africain d’Etudes et de Recherche sur le Terrorisme (CAERT) in the field of counter-terrorism will be reinforced
The current funding (1 MEuros under MEDA, the EC’s main financial instrument for the implementation of the Euro- Mediterranean Partnership) will be complemented by a first action under the Instrument for Stability (IfS) to start before the end of 2008, and will be followed by a programme for 2009-2011 in support of the Sahel Region
in the area of fighting the illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons (SALW), work with African mandated organizations/regional mechanisms will continue to support the implementation of regional conventions and strategies; initial funding should start before end of 2008
Another programme with a wide regional scope in support of African countries’ capacities to fight organised crime/ terrorism is foreseen under the action programme for 2009-2011.
2) The support to the full operationalization of the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA)
An envelop of €65M focused mainly on this objective will be proposed under the second African Peace Facility (2008-2010)
The ongoing assistance to AU political-military structures (Peace and Security Department, Peace and Security Operations Department, and Strategic Planning Management Unit (SPMU) and the recruitment of AU planners and experts will be further financed through the APF and the IfS, as well as through a possible CFSP Joint Action
The ongoing co-operation to strengthen the African Continental Early Warning System (CEWS) will be further reinforced both through the support under the APF, at the continental and regional level, and through a follow-up project focusing on information and communications equipment, training, exchanges of expertise, and exchanges of officials(which has started in the Summer of 2008)
Support will also be provided to the work of the Panel of the Wise on crisis-prone elections
Support for the training and exercises of the African Stand–by Force (ASF) will continue, and a programme focussed on African Training Centres will be launched under the APF
In the field of strengthening African military capabilities, the Euro-RECAMP / AMANI-Africa Initiative will be launched (20.11.2008), and a Contributors Conference, training courses, a Pol-Mil seminar (2009), and the Command-Post Exercise (2010) will also take place
In the field of Civilian crisis management, the planned mapping and needs assessments will develop and operationalise civilian training and police aspects. Possible funding will be provided through existing instruments
ongoing APF funding to AU-led Peace Support Operations will continue, complemented by possible additional contributions form EU Member States and the CFSP Budget
3) Funding for Africa-led PSOs
the Commission will put in place the second African Peace Facility with an allocation of 300MEuro for the period 2008-2010, plus a reserve of another 300 MEuro for the period 2011-2013
The Commission will also provide its support to the AU/UN Panel on African peace-keeping, in particular through sharing experiences/lessons-learned from the support provided to African peace operations under the APF and through expert advice
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