Within the framework of the Africa-European Union Dialogue, the 12th Ministerial Meeting of the African and EU Troikas took place in Luxembourg on 28 April 2009. Below is a summary of the key issues discussed:
I. Global challenges
IA. Economic and Financial crisis:
The Ministers welcomed the outcome of the London G20 Summit, while recalling that the Africa-EU partnership had been instrumental to ensure the involvement of the African Union (AU), African Union Commission (AUC) and NEPAD Chairman in the London Summit. For the efficient implementation of the Joint Africa-EU Strategy, the Ministers emphasized the importance of key issues such as greater aid effectiveness, policy coherence and donor coordination, as well as progress towards full Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs). The Ministers stressed the need for Africa and EU to make use of the Joint Strategy to further enhance the political dialogue on common interests and possible measures to overcome the financial and economic crisis.
IB. Climate Change Agenda: Preparing the Copenhagen Conference:
Ministers agreed that Africa’s and the EU’s common vision regarding the climate change agenda should be pursued in the framework of the Joint Strategy and the Joint Declaration on Climate Change adopted in Addis Ababa on 1 December 2008 prior to the conference in Poznan (Poland), as an early deliverable of the implementation of the Africa-EU Partnership on climate change. They also called for the implementation of the Joint Declaration as an appropriate framework for advancing the Africa-EU common effort regarding the Copenhagen UN Climate Change Conference in December 2009 and beyond. Ministers underlined that Africa’s and EU’s common interests regarding the climate change agenda should be pursued in the framework of the Joint Strategy, as recommended by the Joint Task Force.
II. Implementation of the Joint Strategy/First Action Plan
Ministers welcomed the progress made since the last Ministerial Troika in the implementation of the Strategic Partnership between Africa and the EU. They underlined their continued strong commitment to this ambitious and far-reaching endeavour, and stressed the need for further tangible progress both at the political and the technical-operational level. More than ever, both sides must also seize new opportunities to work together on burning issues such as Peace and Security, Climate Change, Energy access and Energy security. They encouraged Parliaments and non-State actors, and in particular the civil society and the private sector, to participate actively in the Lisbon agenda and invited the Joint Expert Groups (JEGs) to associate them in their respective work and facilitate their effective participation. With regard to the Strategy’s first Action Plan (2008-2010), Ministers welcomed the results achieved by the 8 thematic partnerships agreed in Lisbon. They also welcomed the positive results of the informal meetings held between the EU and AU Presidencies and Commissions and the European and the Pan-African Parliaments (EP and PAP). They welcomed the substantial progress made on both sides to better involve representatives of the African and European Civil Societies in the Joint Strategy, endorsed the results of the JTF held in Brussels (17-18 March 2009), and took note of the Decision of the African Union Assembly on the Africa-EU Dialogue taken at the last AU Summit in Addis Ababa (1-3 February 2009). Ministers agreed to undertake a comprehensive mid-term review of the Joint Strategy and the Action Plan at their next meeting in Autumn 2009.
III. Recent developments since the last Troika Meeting:
Peace and Security issues in Africa and in Europe / Western Balkans:
Ministers reaffirmed the strategic importance of the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) which holds the perspective of a peaceful national, political and democratic transformation of Sudan. In addition, they emphasized the importance of normalization of relations between Sudan and Chad. The issue of the scourge of coups d’etat in Madagascar, Mauritania and Guinea was also discussed. Ministers exchanged views on the international efforts related to Zimbabwe and discussed the humanitarian situation in the country. Peace in Europe was also on the agenda: pointing out the need to sustain stability in order to achieve progress on the way to European integration. The EU also recalled the importance of ensuring free and fair elections in the Western Balkans in line with international standards and commitments.
IV. African Integration process after the AU Summit in Addis
Ministers welcomed progress made in the integration of NEPAD into the AU structures and processes and encouraged the AU Commission to finalize this process. The African side informed the EU about its ongoing efforts towards the transformation of the AU Commission into an AU authority in line with the decision of the 12th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union in February 2009.
V. Legal Issues
The Ministers took note of the report of the independent technical expert group to clarify the respective understandings on the principle of universal jurisdiction as requested by the Ministerial Troika in November 2008. They agreed that the report should be shared with the organs of the EU and the AU as well as Member States. Also discussed on the agenda was the need to fight impunity in the framework of national and international law.
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