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EU-Africa e-alert -- No. 4 / December 2006
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A French version of the e-alert will be posted within the next couple of days at the following link: http://www.ecdpm.org/eu-africa-alertfr. Both English and French versions are posted on the web, along with previous issues, at: www.ecdpm.org/eu-africa-alert and http://europafrica.wordpress.com/
Une version francaise de l'e-alert sera introduite dans les prochains jours a cette adresse: http://www.ecdpm.org/eu-africa-alertfr.
This e-alert aims to provide quick and regular information and analysis on the EU-African relations, especially the decisions and processes that impact on the implementation of the new EU Strategy for Africa. This newsletter is part of a project funded by the European Commission and implemented by ECORYS, aiming at reinforcing the coordination, complementarity and coherence (the “three Cs”) of EU action towards Africa.
The EU-Africa e-alert is expected to be a living document and is meant to offer African and European stakeholders the opportunity to share information and exchange points of view and is done in partnership with the African Union Commission. Please do not hesitate to send interesting links and articles which can contribute to enriching this e-alert, in particular by African partners. We would like to thank everyone who has contributed so far.
Contact: europafrica.e-alert@ecdpm.org. Please also send an e-mail to this address if you want to unsubscribe from this e-alert.
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The Cotonou Partnership Agreement: What role in a changing world?
After more than 5 years since its implementation, it is time to make a first assessment of the progress achieved with the key innovations of the Cotonou Partnership Agreement (CPA). ECDPM is therefore holding a seminar on the topic on the 18 and 19 December.
http://cotonoupartnership.blogspot.com/
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Contents
I – Focus: The implementation of the EU Strategy towards Africa
II – The African Union: Africa in a broader context and the RECs
III – EU external aid: EDF 10, new instruments of EC external aid and EU development cooperation policy
IV – Peace and Security
V – Governance
VI – EPA negotiations
VII – Migration and development
VIII – EU-AU relations and follow up of the EU Strategy for Africa
IX – An actor in EU-AU relations: AWEPA
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I – Focus : the implementation of the EU Strategy towards Africa
The European Council of 14-15 December has approved the report submitted jointly by the European Commission and the Council secretariat on the implementation of the EU Strategy for Africa one year after its approval by the European Council. The report highlights the progress made in the implementation of the Strategy and the way forward. One question that can be raised is the extent of the involvement of EU Member States in the implementation of the Strategy since the report only lightly touches on this aspect and mainly refers to Community measures. The European Council has also renewed its wish to work towards an EU-Africa Summit in Lisbon during the second half of 2007 as well as working towards a joint EU-Africa Strategy in that context. The following editorial by SAIIA as well as the two additional contributions from Maria Martens and Grace Wakio, and highlight the main achievements of the EU Strategy for Africa as well as some challenges.
Presidency Counclusions:
http://www.consilium.europa.eu/ueDocs/cms_Data/docs/pressData/en/ec/92202.pdf
Joint Report of the European Commission and the Council Secretariat: The EU and Africa : Towards a Strategic Partnership - The way forward and key achievements in 2006
http://register.consilium.europa.eu/pdf/en/06/st16/st16630.en06.pdf
SAIIA editorial
“EU-Africa Strategy: addressing better governance and more growth”
Editorial by Romy Chevallier and Elizabeth Sidiropoulos, respectively, EU-Africa researcher and national director of the South African Institute of International Affairs, based at Wits University in Johannesburg.
A review of the implementation of the various components of the EU Strategy for Africa. Click here to read the article.
“The EU Africa Strategy and its implementation”
Contribution by Maria Mertens, Member of the European Parliament.
Maria Mertens highlights that there is still quite some work to be done in terms of implementation of the Strategy. Click here to read more.
“Broadening participation and intensifying the implementation of the European Union’s (EU) Strategy for Africa”
Contribution by Grace Wakio. Ms Wakio has a proficiency in Law in Human Rights and democratisation in Africa acquired at the University of Pretoria, South Africa, with a specific focus on civil society participation in governance processes.
An article that introduces broader participation as a possible principle in the EU strategy for Africa. To read this article, click here
II- The African Union: Africa in a Broader Context and the RECs
1. African Union
The 6th Ordinary Session of the Pan African Parliament in was held on 13-23 November, in Midrand, South Africa.
The Parliament discussed, among other things, peace and security issues in Africa as well as the EU Strategy for Africa. Click here to read more.
African private sector forum, 28-30 November 2006, Cairo, Egypt
Noting the critical role that the private sector is expected to play in the development and integration of the African economy, in particular its contribution to poverty reduction through investment and employment creation, the AU Commission undertook to organize on an annual basis a private sector forum. The AU-Private Sector Forum is a key instrument of interface and partnership between the African Union policy makers and the private sector. Click here to read more
Third session of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights
The Third Session of the African Court on Human and People’s Rights will be held from 11 to 20 December 2006, at the AU Headquarters, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The African Court is now at a stage where it is considering aspects relating to it proper functioning.
http://www.africa-union.org/root/au/Conferences/Past/2006/December/LC/african_court.doc
For more information about the African Union, please see their website:
http://www.africa-union.org
2. Africa in a Broader Context
First Africa – South America Summit, 30 November, Abuja, Nigeria
Heads of States and Government from Africa and South America agreed to enhance the cooperation between the two continents and establish the Africa- South America Cooperative Forum (ASACOF) of Heads of State and Government. In their statements, the leaders emphasized the need for South-South cooperation and strategic partnerships, strengthening existing links, engaging in constructive dialogue, and working for a more equitable economic order.
http://www.africa-union.org/root/au/News/Newsletters/Publication14_Nov_2006.pdf
http://www.africa-union.org/root/au/Conferences/Past/2006/November/SummitASA/summit.htm
Diana Cammack. China and the politics of development in Africa. ODI
With a burgeoning economy in need of raw materials, China has now fully engaged with
Africa. In addition to seeking minerals, timber and oil it has been building roads and hospitals, investing in a broad range of sectors, becoming a trading partner, and a ‘brotherfriend’ that provides soft loans and other incentives. Recently it has likened its activities in Africa to bringing ‘wood to the snow’, recognising that large parts of the continent lack capital, skills, and markets to develop.
http://www.odi.org.uk/publications/opinions/76_china_africa_cammack_nov06.pdf
New debt to China
The International Monetary Fund warned that China’s emergence as an alternative lender was creating a new wave of hidden debt in Africa as it backed its companies’ expansion overseas with increasingly aggressive lending. Concern has risen sharply among rich nations’ development ministries and international aid agencies that China’s push into Africa could reverse their work of the past decade writing off African countries’ official debts and making sure that aid was spent well.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/640a5986-863a-11db-86d5-0000779e2340.html
ACP Summit, 7 to 8 December
Heads of State and Governments met in Khartoum, Sudan, under the theme “United for peace, solidarity and sustainable development”. They discussed the situation in the six ACP regions with special attention given to peace and security. Other issues high on the agenda were the future intra-ACP cooperation, as well as that with external actors, and especially with the European Union. Official website including ‘Khartoum declaration’:
http://www.5thacpsummit.gov.sd/
Related news article, with specific focus on the EPA negotiations with the EU:
http://www.ipsterraviva.net/Europe/article.aspx?id=4152
3. Upcoming events: AU Summit
8th AU Summit of Heads of State and Government
The 8th AU Summit of Heads of State and Government will be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on the 17-20 January on the theme: ‘Scientific Research and Technology for Africa’s Socio-economic Transformation’. This presents the African Union an opportunity to focus on the role that science and technology (S&T) and innovation can play towards Africa's socio-economic development. Key issues for consideration are Africa's capacity to use S&T for socio-economic development, Africa's human capacity in S&T and funding for S&T.
www.africa-union.org
Ministers Propose 2007 as 'Year of Science' in Africa
African science ministers have backed a set of measures to promote science and technology across the continent, four of which will be recommended for endorsement at next month's African Union (AU) summit of heads of states.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200612010101.html
4. African Regional Economic Communities
Southern African Development Community – SADC
SADC-EU double troika ministerial meeting, 17 November 2006
The meeting discussed collaboration between the regions under the theme: “Accelerating implementation of the SADC regional integration and development agenda.”
http://www.consilium.europa.eu/ueDocs/cms_Data/docs/pressData/en/er/91779.pdf
Economic Community of West African States – ECOWAS
ECOWAS: Partners’ Conference
A meeting between ECOWAS and its development partners concluded that the collaboration had been positive, and the partners also expressed satisfaction over the progress made by ECOWAS on both the regional integration activities as well as on the coordination of the implementation of NEPAD programmes.
http://news.ecowas.int/en/presseshow.php?nb=115〈=en&annee=2006
ECOWAS Seeks Extension of Agreement with EU
The regional ministerial committee monitoring the negotiations of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) have requested a three-year extension of the 2007 deadline for conclusion of negotiations for a free trade area.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200612041544.html
ESA
Eastern and Southern African (ESA) countries' trade ministers on 14 November said development is a priority for the region and must remain a key element in the new trade negotiations with European Union. The ministers called on the European Commission to take necessary measures and mandate its negotiators to give priority the development dimension and make this part and parcel of EPA negotiations.
http://www.tralac.org/scripts/content.php?id=5515
WAMZ
West African Monetary Zone
Member countries of the West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ) have expressed their commitment towards a single monetary zone by December 1, 2009. To ensure the realisation of this objective, member countries have equally agreed to start trading with WAMZ local currencies not later than December 2006, and the implementation of the capital account convertibility not later than December 2007.
http://www.graphicghana.info/article.asp?artid=14436
III - EU External Aid: EDF 10, Development Cooperation Instrument and EU Development Policy
1. The 10th European Development Fund implementation and the Development Cooperation Instrument
EDF Management and Performance
This discussion paper focuses on the changes that the Cotonou agreement has brought for the EDF, posing the question: “How much did the new emphasis on performance and the rationalisation of instruments and management of aid contribute to more effective and efficient development programmes?” Click here to read this article.
Eurostep: Legitimacy of EC aid programming questioned
This press release discusses questions that have been raised by European and ACP parliamentarians on the legitimacy and the credibility of the programming process of European Community aid to ACP countries under the 10th European Development Fund (EDF), in the context of a debate with Louis Michel during the 12th session of the ACP/EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly in Barbados on 20th November 2006. Read more
We decide, you "own"! - An assessment of European Community aid Programming
On 8 November Eurostep published a report that criticizes the planning of the EU’s aid to ACP countries from 2008. The report includes 4 country studies looking at the national process to date written by civil society actors. It concludes that from the case studies presented, and information provided by civil society actors from other countries, the EU's principles of ownership, transparency and participation are very far from being reflected in the process to date. The case studies focus on Benin, Burundi, Cameroon and Zambia. Click here to read more.
Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION amending Financial Regulation applicable to the 9th European Development Fund
This proposal for a revised 9th EDF Council regulation takes into account the modifications introduced into the budget Council regulation as well as future modifications that will be needed in relation to the revision of annex of the Cotonou Partnership Agreement
http://register.consilium.europa.eu/pdf/en/06/st15/st15990.en06.pdf
European Parliament Development Committee votes on DCI
On Thursday 30 November the European Parliament Development Committee voted in favour of the recommendation for second reading by rapporteur Gay Mitchell. The recommendation points out the great successes Parliament was able to achieve during the negotiation with the Commission and the Council “so that the shape of the final regulation will be unrecognisable to those who framed that initial proposal.”
http://www.eurostep.org/wcm/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=99&Itemid=0
Eurostep: “The Right Framework to Deliver on Europe's Commitments towards Developing Countries?”
In this article Eurostep analyses the European Commission’s financial assistance to developing countries through the Development Cooperation Instrument, DCI.
http://www.bond.org.uk/networker/nov06/eubudget.htm
2. EU Development cooperation policy
“Delivering the goods: Challenges for ACP-EU relations in 2007”
This InBrief seeks to identify some of the headline debates that can be expected in 2007 and to sketch the backdrop against which these will unfold. The aim is not so much to predict outcomes, but to situate and frame the EU debates on development cooperation so as to enable as wide a group of stakeholders as possible to follow and participate in them. Click here to read this article.
Building a new world: the European consensus strategy.
In the EU DG Development e-Courier magazine, the Director General of DG Development, Stefano Manservisi, sets out the framework of the new European development strategy, two years after its launch. Read more.
Budget Support in the EC's Development Cooperation.
A study by the German Development Institute works out the central elements of the EC’s budget support concept, examining it in terms of the objectives envisaged for and the risks entailed by budget support. The study looks into whether and to what extent the concept is in fact being implemented in the EC’s budget-support programs. The study’s aim is to assess the EC’s performance as a donor in the provision of budget support. Click here to read the study.
Call for papers: “The Makability of Regions. An Evaluation of EU Monitoring and Support to Regional Integration Worldwide.”
The GARNET Network of Excellence is conducting a stocktaking exercise on the EU support invested in regionalisation processes and on the monitoring and assessment tools that have been developed for that purpose. Questions have been raised about whether it makes political and/or technical ‘sense’ to export the EU model of regional integration. Potential contributors to a planned edited volume are invited to submit their proposals to: pdelombaerde@cris.unu.edu. Find out more by clicking here.
Three-Cs Information Brief on Coordination and Complementarity of CSPs
This Information Brief introduces the most important findings and key recommendations of the joint evaluation on Coordination and Complementarity of Country Strategy Papers with National Development Priorities. It is part of a series of six joint evaluations that examine how the Maastricht Treaty's precepts on coordination, complementarity and coherence have been translated into practice, and with what impact. You can find more information on these evaluations on the following website:
http://www.three-cs.net
3. EU External Aid in Perspective: other relevant matters
European Neighbourhood Policy: Report on progress
Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, today sets out new proposals to strengthen and further develop the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP). The first 18 months of implementation of the ENP have shown good results. The new Communication sets out to increase the impact of the policy, by proposing ways that the EU can help partners who are willing to reform to do this faster and better, and provide incentives to convince those who are still hesitant. The new proposals are accompanied by progress reports on the Neighbourhood partners whose ENP Action Plans began to be implemented in 2005.
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/en/com/2006/com2006_0726en01.pdf
Stocktaking Report on the implementation of measures to increase the efficiency, coherence and visibility of EU external policies and future work
Secretary-General/High Representative and the Commission.
The aim of the stocktaking report is to assess what has been achieved so far and to set
targets for future work. Enhancing EU external action will require the commitment from the successive Presidencies, the Member States, the Commission and the Council Secretariat in order to ensure the continuity of the process.
http://register.consilium.europa.eu/pdf/en/06/st15/st15822-re01.en06.pdf
“Civil dialogue, making it work better”
This report looks at the practise of dialogue between NGOs and EU institutions, reviewing what works and what doesn’t, and making recommendations for change.
http://www.concordeurope.org/download.cfm?media=pdfUK&id=1750
“Financing Development: What Are the Challenges in Expanding Aid Flows?”
This report presents the proceedings of a conference organised last year by the Agence Française de Développement and the European Development Research Network. The discussions addressed the following issues: How should aid needs be evaluated? What links exist between absorption capacity and the disbursement constraints of aid agencies? Read the report here
DAC Chair calls on donors to deliver on their Gleneagles commitments
Final data on aid flows in 2005 reveal that underlying aid flows to the poorest countries in sub-Saharan Africa have stalled. Official development assistance from members of the OECD’s Development Assistance Committee, which groups the world’s major donors, reached USD 106.8 billion in 2005, a record high. But USD 22.7 billion of this was for debt relief, mostly for Iraq and Nigeria.
http://www.oecd.org/document/54/0,2340,en_2649_33721_37799158_1_1_1_1,00.html
German EU-Presidency Programme, 1 January – 30 June 2007
Key elements of the Presidency's development work include implementing the European Development Consensus, increasing the level, impact and efficiency of cooperation, improving the coherence of Community policy in the interests of development and strengthening the role of women in the development process, in close dialogue with civil society. The Presidency will also drive forward the EU-Africa strategy, in consultation with its African partners. Click here to read more.
“Putting the Political Dimension into Practice”
This background paper discusses the political aspects of the Cotonou Agreement and focuses on its implications for a growing partnership between the EU and the states of Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific. Read the background paper here.
IV - Peace and Security
Extension of the African Union mandate in Darfur
The African Union has agreed to extend the mandate of its peacekeeping force in the Sudanese region of Darfur for a further six months from January.
http://www.africa-union.org/root/au/Conferences/Past/2006/November/PSC/Communiqu__66th__Darfur_Eng.pdf
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6197166.stm
Meetings of the AU Peace and Security Council
Briefing note on the AU evaluation mission of the situation in Central African Republic
The African Union Peace and Security Council has adopted a decision on “the Establishment of a Coordination and Consultation Mechanism between the African Union Peace and Security Council and the United Nations Security Council”
http://www.africa-union.org/root/au/Conferences/Past/2006/December/PSC/68th%20Communique%20(Eng).doc
EU: Strengthening African capabilities in conflict prevention, management and resolution.
The EU General Affairs and External Relations Council on November, 13, adopted a concept for strengthening African capabilities for the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts. The concept is intended to provide a coherent and comprehensive EU framework for the implementation of key aspects of the Peace and Security cluster of the EU Strategy for Africa.
http://www.consilium.europa.eu/ueDocs/cms_Data/docs/pressData/en/gena/91667.pdf
Role of NGOs in crises management
EU recommendations for Enhancing Cooperation with Non Governmental Organisations and Civil Society Organisations in the Framework of EU Civilian Crisis Management and Conflict Prevention.
http://register.consilium.europa.eu/pdf/en/06/st15/st15574.en06.pdf
The role of human security in foreign policy. What lessons for the EU.
A meeting of the European Policy Centre discussed EU foreign policy in Palestine, Sudan and the DRC. Policy is based on human security, but this should be made more explicit through state building, work on the rule of law and bottom up and regional approaches.
http://www.epc.eu/en/er.asp?TYP=ER&LV=293&see=y&t=2&PG=ER/EN/detail&l=&AI=660
V - Governance
European Development Days
European Development Days, 13-17 November 2006, Belgium
The first edition of the European development days took place in Brussels from 13 to 17 November 2006. The initiative aims at enhancing public awareness about development cooperation and is planned to be an annual event, and this first edition had a special focus on governance. African leaders participating in the event recognized the importance of good governance as an important condition for the future development and prosperity of their countries. However, they also told the EU not to lecture them on governance, recalling that the latter could not be imposed from outside. European Union officials stressed that a newly pushed “strategic partnership’’ between Europe and Africa had to be built on the link between cooperation and reform. “We don’t wish to impose, we wish to inspire,” Commissioner Michel said.
http://www.eudevdays.eu/
http://www.ipsterraviva.net/Europe/article.aspx?id=4069
http://www.euforic.org/detail_page.phtml?&username=guest@euforic.org&
password=9999&groups=EUFORIC&workgroup=&page=eudevdays
‘Just Governance’: Alternative Event by Civil Society
As an alternative to the European development days, civil society organisations gathered in Brussels for a two day seminar on 'Just Governance'. The event was organised by ActionAid International and supported, among others by Eurostep, Aprodev and Concord. Around 100 CSO representatives from Europe, Africa and Asia debated the definitions of governance proposed by the European Commission, seeking alternative views. A final declaration was issued. For more information, see:
http://www.actionaid.org/index.asp?page_id=1424
Further reading
Can governments be trusted? OECD Civil Society Newsletter, N.6
A number of polls in recent years have pointed to citizens’ declining trust in their governments. At the same time, virtually all OECD governments have been enacting reforms to increase their efficiency and accountability while lowering costs. Better communication has been part and parcel of these reforms, since trust does not follow automatically on the heels of reform if the public does not perceive the benefits of the reforms.
http://www.oecd.org/LongAbstract/0,2546,fr_2649_201185_37752288_119693_1_1_1,00.html
“Civil Society Efforts in Improving Accountability in Africa”
This paper discusses the status of civil society in Africa, civil society efforts in social accountability, their opportunities, challenges and issues facing them in their social accountability efforts. It was presented at the ICCO Civil Society and Accountability Workshop, Harare, 30 Nov – 2 Dec.
http://www.ecdpm.org/Web_ECDPM/Web/Content/
Content.nsf/0/4407146313C48776C125724400311911?Opendocument
Launch of the 2006 Global Corruption Barometer
At the occasion of the 3rd International Anti-Corruption Day on Saturday, 9 December, Transparency International presented the results of a public opinion survey of corruption in 62 countries. The 2006 Global Corruption Barometer, now in its fourth edition, looks at the form and extent of corruption through the eyes of ordinary citizens around the world.
http://www.transparency.org/news_room/latest_news/
press_releases/2006/2006_12_05_gcb_media_advisory
World Bank Strategy for Governance and Corruption
The World Bank public consultation on its Strategy for governance and corruption is ongoing. To contribute, see:
http://www.worldbank.org/html/extdr/comments/governancefeedback/
African Perspectives on International Criminal Justice
The third volume in the Africa Legal Aid Special Book Series is devoted to international criminal law and, more specifically, to the initiatives that have been taken in recent years to hold criminally accountable alleged perpetrators of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.
http://www.afla.unimaas.nl/en/pubs/new%20book.pdf
Germany urges China to work with EU, G8 in Africa
Germany will hold the presidencies of both the European Union and the Group of Eight industrialised nations in 2007, and this article discusses that during this time Germany aims to deepen its dialogue with China over trade in Africa and encourage Beijing not to undermine efforts to foster good governance in the region.
http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=147823
VI - EPA Negotiations
In this e-alert we do not intend to give a comprehensive overview of the EPA negotiations and other trade related issues, since we consider that there are others with greater expertise in those issues. For extensive information on EPAs and the state of the negotiations, we therefore refer you to:
http://www.acp-eu-trade.org
You can also receive monthly updates on key ACP-EU trade-related public information by subscribing to the acp-eu-trade newsletter at:
http://www.acp-eu-trade.org/index.php?loc=newsletter/
“Redefining ACP-EU Trade Relations: Economic Partnership Agreements”
This background paper discusses the progress of the EPA negotiations in the context of the Cotonou agreement.
The ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly Resolution on EPAs
The resolution concerns the current reviews of the EPA negotiations and noted that in most regions the negotiations have reached virtual deadlock in view of disagreements on what is understood by the ‘development dimension’, which should be central to discussions on EPAs,
http://www.dgroups.org/groups/CoOL/docs/EPAs-ACPEUJPA_Resolution_231106.doc?ois=no
OECD: South-South Trade offers a wide scope for specialisation and efficiency gains
This analysis suggests that, from a development point of view, South-South liberalisation is at least as important as tariff-free market access to Northern markets.
http://appli1.oecd.org/olis/2006doc.nsf/43bb6130e5e86e5fc12569fa005d004c/
854fb6d47e7b5823c12572040033ff58/$FILE/JT03215960.PDF
2. WTO negotiations
Tralac: “WTO and Singapore Issues”
A feature of the WTO during its first ten years has been the impact of the so-called Singapore-issues of investment, competition, government procurement and trade facilitation. The objective of this paper is to review the issues in the context of the WTO and assess to what extent they legitimately belong in this WTO forum, or alternatively, to what extent they belong within regional and bilateral agreements and how they may be treated within these types of agreements. An essential question related to the latter is the extent to which the EU and the US in particular are attempting to re-introduce these Singapore issues ‘through the back door’ of African bilateral and regional trade agreements where they are perceived to have a more asymmetrical negotiating position than in the WTO.
http://www.tralac.org/pdf/20061114_Sandrey_SingaporeIssues.pdf
Hubs and Spokes: “Losers and winners under WTO regime”
This article elaborates on the statement that there are losers as well as winners under WTO regime and asks the question: “Will the poor be among the gainers or the losers?”
http://www.thecommonwealth.org/Templates/HSInternal.asp?NodeID=156721
VII - Migration and development
EU-Africa Ministerial Conference on Migration and Development, Tripoli (Libya) 22-23 November
The first Africa-Europe high level conference on migration was held in Tripoli, Libya, on the 22-23 November. At the summit European governments agreed to address the root causes of migration such as the lack of employment in many African countries through better targeted development policies and by ensuring that policies in other areas such as trade, agriculture and fisheries did not exacerbate migration. They also agreed to provide assistance to African countries for the management of both South-South and South-North migratory movements. Another concern of especially the African governments was the protection of their migrants in Europe. The conference also highlighted the opportunities of migration and that it can, when it is well-managed, have a positive development impact for all the countries involved. However, care needs to be taken to ensure that these movements of people do not result in ‘brain-drain’ in sectors vital for African economies and finding ways of managing migration and encouraging the circulation of skilled and professional workers are thus important to both continents.
http://www.africa-union.org/root/au/Conferences/Past/2006/November/SA/EU/EU-AU.htm
http://www.eu2006.fi/news_and_documents/press_releases/vko47/en_GB/175415/
Trans-Saharan Migration to North Africa and the EU: Historical Roots and Current Trends
This article discusses how the increasing levels of sub-Saharan immigration have hugely expanded the number of countries involved, complicated expulsions, and increased tensions in the EU on regularization and humanitarian issues.
http://www.migrationinformation.org/Feature/display.cfm?id=484
European Migration Policy and its implications for Africa
This policy paper by the CeSPI, Centro Studi di Politica Internazionale, focuses in its first part on: “European migration policies towards Africa. Trends, impact and outlook”, whereas in the second: “Migrations and development in Africa. Two political agendas to be reconciled”.
http://www.cespi.it/WP/Policy_Paper_EN.pdf
EC Communication on the Global Approach to Migration.
This EC Communication reports back on progress in implementation particularly in Africa and proposes ways to make the EU approach truly comprehensive.
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/en/com/2006/com2006_0735en01.pdf
VIII - EU-AU Relations and Follow-up of the EU Strategy for Africa
1. The EU Strategy for Africa and the drafting of a joint EU/Africa Strategy
Revision of the EU Strategy for Africa at the occasion of next EU Council (see first section)
Preparation of a joint EU-Africa Strategy in 2007
The EC has announced during the Development Days that a joint EU-Africa Strategy will be prepared in 2007. A consultation will be launched to involve the various stakeholders in the process. The Strategy will be prepared in the running up to the second EU-Africa Summit of Heads of States and Governments that is hoped to be held in Lisbon during the second semester of 2008 as already mentioned in the communiqué of the Brazzaville Ministerial troika
http://www.europe-cares.org/africa/docs/101006_Final_Brazzaville_Comm.doc
2. EU – AU dialogue and institutional relations
EU Presidency Seminar: 'Parliamentary Partnership for Africa's Economic Development in the Framework of NEPAD and the MDGs', Helsinki, 23-24 November
Over 75 parliamentarians from Africa and Europe participated in the seminar, which was organised by AWEPA in cooperation with the Parliament of Finland and supported by the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs. It stressed the importance of creating a conducive climate for sustainable economic development in Africa.
http://www.awepa.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=369
EU-Africa business forum
In line with the EU Strategy for Africa, an EU-Africa business forum was held in Brussels on 16-17 November.
http://www.europe-cares.org/africa/business_forum_en.html
IX – An actor in EU-Africa relations: AWEPA
The Association of European Parliamentarians for Africa (AWEPA) is an international non-governmental organisation that supports parliaments in Africa and works to keep Africa high on the political agenda in Europe. AWEPA does this by supporting parliaments, local authorities and political parties by organising conferences, training, workshops and exchange visits.
With its roots in the campaign to end apartheid in South Africa, AWEPA now works in Africa from a development perspective to strengthen the core functions of parliaments: oversight, representation and legislation. It believes that strong parliaments in particular, and good governance, transparency and accountability in general, are essential prerequisites for Africa's development and ultimately for its stability, peace and prosperity. AWEPA currently works with some 25 parliaments in Africa through jointly agreed capacity building programmes. Further, AWEPA’s thematic programs inform parliamentarians and mobilize parliamentary action on specific issues such as HIV/AIDS and Orphans, NEPAD, Peace, Poverty Reduction and Private Sector Development.
In Europe, AWEPA members improve the understanding and commitment among parliamentarians and other political leaders towards important issues in Africa. AWEPA has some 1500 current and former parliamentarians as members from almost all EU member states and the European Parliament. Besides, as a non-partisan organization, AWEPA has members from the whole political spectrum.
For more information: www.awepa.org
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T +31 (0)10 453 88 00
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ECORYS Macro & Sector Policies
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Editors: Jean Bossuyt (jb@ecdpm.org) and Marie-Laure de Bergh (mdb@ecdpm.org) with the participation of Frederic Ceuppens (fc@ecdpm.org) and Sara Erlandsson (se@ecdpm.org).
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not represent any official view of the European Commission or the African Union Commission. |