ECDPM aims to share information on the Joint Africa-EU Strategy, 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 fifteenth issue of the Europafrica bulletin (click here for the previous issues), which will give you an up-date on the implementation of the Joint Africa-EU Strategy. The bulletin is issued 1-2 times per month. Subscribe by sending an e-mail to: europafrica@ecdpm.org
News
CSO Consultation on the Implementation Phase of Africa-EU Strategic Partnership by the AUC, Bamako 3-5/03/2008
The Bamako meeting was organized by CIDO, the AUC department that deals with relations with civil society, and is the 3rd CSO consultation on the joint Africa-EU Strategy following Accra’s meetings of March and October 2007. Some African CSOs were invited to come up with ‘actionable suggestions’ for an ‘engagement strategy’ towards the Africa-EU Joint Partnership on top of autonomous CSO action.
Seminar on Civil Society Involvement in the Joint Africa-EU Strategy implementation and monitoring in Brussels
A seminar was organized by the Slovenian Presidency, the European Commission, and the Council Secretary-General to discuss possible entry points for CSOs in the implementation phase of the Strategy on the basis of the various possibilities foreseen by the joint Africa-EU Strategy and Action Plan approved at the Lisbon Summit in December 2007. The meeting was attended by about 50 representatives from European civil society organizations (CSOs) from the North. It was hosted by the Portuguese Permanent Representation in Brussels, Belgium and was moderated and facilitated by the European Centre for Development Policy Management (ECDPM).
The 15th session of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly is meeting in Ljubljana, Slovenia
The ACP-EU Parliamentary Assembly was officially opened on Monday, 15th of March in Ljubljana, Slovenia and brought together 78 MEPs and 78 parliamentarians from the African, Caribbean and Pacific states having JPAs Co-Presidents Glenys Kinnock and Wilkie Rasmussen (Cook Islands) as key speakers. The Economic Partnership Agreements are on top of the agenda of the JPA.
Comments on the African Union and the AU Audit
Abdalla Bujra is Executive Director DPMF Member of the Audit Panel and has commented on the audit report and its process until its final formal discussion at the 10th AU Summit in Addis.
Dolphine Ndeda, a Pan Africa Associate at Oxfam GB, for the Pan Africa Programme, has written another comprehensive review of the Audit Report.
John Palmer – An editorial commentator in an Indian newspaper recently observed that “The European Union appears to be more loved and respected from afar than it is at home.” It was, perhaps, an unduly harsh – but not an unreasonable – observation.
The Trilateral Partnership: EU-China-Africa
In the framework of the upcoming event on the finalisation of the trilateral partnership between the European Union, China and Africa planed by DG Development Commissioner, Louis Michel, this month, it is worth looking again at some views on China from an African perspective. In addition, the European Commission is launching a new communication ‘The EU, Africa and China: Towards a trilateral dialogue and a cooperation on peace, stability and sustainable development in Africa” that should be finalized at the end of this year.
Read more
Solana appoints Special Advisor for African Peacekeeping capabilities
Javier Solana, EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) has appointed General Pierre- Michel Joana as Special Advisor for African peacekeeping capabilities. His appointment is meant to strengthen the partnership between Africa and the European Union in the field of prevention management and resolution of conflicts and is in line with the Africa-EU Joint Strategy adopted last December in Lisbon of which peace and security is a key dimension.
Read the Official Statement – pdf
5th Meeting of ACP-EU EESC: ‘The EU-Africa Strategy, opportunities and prospects for the Future’
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) has organised a meeting of the ACP and EU economic and social interest groups to discuss about the future of the EU-Africa Strategy. The goal of this meeting was to analyse the implementation of the Cotonou agreement and to follow up the economic partnership agreements. The meeting has gathered representatives from 78 ACP countries and members from the European civil society as well as members of the European Institutions.
Climate change and international security addressed at the European Council
‘Climate Change and International Security’ – Report by Javier Solana
This report describes the implications of Climate Change on the European Union Foreign Security policies and its internal impacts within the border of the EU like migration. It was discussed at the European Council. Solana wants to build up EU capacities across the board: from monitoring and early warning, to conflict prevention, crisis management and disaster response; to work with major international partners (US, Russia, others) and with those that will be hit the hardest, both to raise awareness and to equip them to better deal with the likely consequences of climate change and to address the implications for territorial claims, exclusive economic zones and access to new trade routes, on the basis of existing international frameworks, which perhaps need strengthening.
What is the current trend of EU-Africa Relations? A few selected articles and interviews
How Europe Lost Africa – by Dominic Johnson
The future of Europe’s special relationship with Africa is at risk as former colonies react to a blasé, if not hypocritical, European attitude toward the continent. European-style institutions could enter a profound crisis of legitimacy if things do not change soon.
Developing a new Euro-Africa partnership – by Nathalie Delapalme
The continents of Europe and Africa are outgrowing old prejudices that in many cases stem from the colonial era. Nathalie Delapalme argues that both are moving towards a more equal partnership capable of dealing with their shared problems and ambitions.
Euforic has published various interviews on EU- Africa Relations by various African and European officials, MEPs and experts during a conference held at the EP on “The role of new EU Member States in the EU-Africa development policy”.
Belly Aribot on EU-Africa Relations – video
Kalifa Ababacar Sall sur les relations UE-Afrique – video
Geert Laporte on EU-Africa Relations – video
Reports of the last conferences on the Joint Africa-EU Strategy
KAS Conference: European Union and Africa- Emerging priorities, opportunities and challenges
Read more about the Conference
Summary of the AWEPA Conference on ‘The Role of the New EU MS in EU-Africa Development Policy’
Read more about the conference
FES Workshop: A renewed partnership? The relations between the EU and Africa after the EU-Africa-Summit in Lisbon
Programme – doc
Official Report of the Brussels Briefing on ‘Climate Change and ACP responses’
Read all presentations slides – html
Summary of the different presentations – html
Meetings/ Upcoming Events
17-20/03: 15th session of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary (Ljubljana, Slovenia)
19- 20/03: AU Meeting on the Implementation of the Joint Africa-EU Strategy (Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso) with AU Member States experts from Western, Central and Northern Africa
01/04: EC International Roundtable on ‘AU-EU Strategic Partnership: Challenges and Prospects’ (Brussels, Belgium)
02/04: Public Hearing: Building a Global Climate Challenge Alliance between the EU and Developing Countries (European Parliament, Brussels)
14-15/04: AU Meeting on the Implementation of the Joint Africa-EU Strategy (Maseru, Lesotho) with AU Member States experts from Eastern and Southern Africa
17-18/04: Joint EC-AU Task force in Addis-Ababa (Ethiopia)
April – May : meetings of some informal joint expert groups on some of the partnerships (date tbc)
May-June : Africa-EU Ministerial Troika (date tbc)
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