The Council adopted the following conclusions on the trilateral dialogue and cooperation between the European Union, China and Africa at the 2902nd GENERAL AFFAIRS Council meeting on the 10 of November 2008 in Brussels.
“1. The Council thanks the Commission for its communication and supports its proposal to establish trilateral dialogue and cooperation between the European Union, Africa and China, with the aim of promoting peace and security and contributing to efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Africa.
2. Africa is a strategic partner of the EU within the framework of the Action Plan adopted at the 2007 Lisbon Africa/EU Summit. China is also playing an increasing role in Africa and offers new prospects for the economic development of the African continent. Importance commitments between China and Africa were made in November 2006 within the framework provided by the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
3. In this new context, it would seem advantageous to coordinate the EU’s and China’s efforts more closely around priorities which reflect Africa’s needs. The Council considers that establishing a trilateral dialogue, following on from the initiatives taken since the 2006 EU-China Summit, will strengthen the EU’s bilateral partnerships with both China and Africa, including the African Union, by enabling common interests and areas for cooperation to be identified. This trilateral dialogue will support the efforts undertaken by Africa and by the international community to promote democratisation, political and economic integration, good governance and respect for human rights.
4. The Council considers that this cooperation should be developed within the framework of a joint approach and implemented by initiatives in the sectors of peace, security and sustainable economic and social development in Africa. The Commission’s proposals regarding trilateral cooperation – initiatives in the sectors of peace and security in Africa; support for African infrastructure; sustainable management of the environment and natural resources; and agriculture and food security, based on existing plans and programmes – tend towards this end. Particular attention should be given to cooperation in the area of peace and security, where the European Union and China can contribute together to the stability of the African countries and to strengthening African crisis management capabilities. Given that development and security are interdependent, trilateral cooperation centred on these initiatives should promote coherence between actions undertaken in these different sectors.
5. In the interests of effectiveness, the Council wishes this trilateral cooperation to be developed
progressively in the existing fora and within the framework of the structures established in the bilateral partnerships. The Council would stress the desirability of a common approach to improving the effectiveness of official development assistance and preventing crises of overindebtedness, taking account of the Paris declaration and the Accra Action Plan.
6. The Council notes with interest the Commission’s recommendations. It requests the Commission, Member States and the competent Council bodies to examine these proposals in greater detail and participate actively in the process of implementing concrete proposals. The Council urges Africa and China to cooperate with the EU in establishing trilateral dialogue and cooperation.”
