1 / 15

Public consultation on the Joint EU-Africa Strategy Results of the first phase of the consultation

Public consultation on the Joint EU-Africa Strategy Results of the first phase of the consultation. African Union Pre-summit civil society forum Accra, Ghana, 19-21 June 2007. Context. Public consultation jointly launched by AUC and EC on 5 February on the basis of 5 themes

harley
Download Presentation

Public consultation on the Joint EU-Africa Strategy Results of the first phase of the consultation

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Public consultation on the Joint EU-Africa StrategyResults of the first phase of the consultation African Union Pre-summit civil society forum Accra, Ghana, 19-21 June 2007

  2. Context • Public consultation jointly launched by AUC and EC on 5 February on the basis of 5 themes • Aim : to seek the views of European and African civil society • First phase of the consultation ended on 15 May : adoption of the outline by the joint EU-Africa Ministerial Troika • Public consultation: • Joint Internet consultation : 200 comments, 40 position papers • Various events/ seminars on both continents : Accra, Bad Honnef • Role of ECDPM: facilitator of the public consultation in Europe and of the public consultation • Presentation of the results of the first phase of the consultation

  3. Process: some scepticism • Limited timeline: Lisbon summit could be a milestone and more extended consultation necessary : will it allow a proper involvement • Doubts on how comments will be taken on board by decision makers • Unequal access to Internet and many relevant debates taking place in other fora • Consultation so far is only a start • Reflection needed on what happens after the Summit => Call to move “from consultation to involvement”

  4. Key messages Wish for real change in EU-Africa relations and for a new relationship based on: • a new set of principles (e.g. respect, equality) • a joint strategy that goes beyond aid to include a wide range of global issues; • a people centered and people driven partnership • future Strategy should be based on critical assessment of existing policies/partnership • Need for concrete commitments

  5. Shared vision • Call for an equal partnership based on the principles such as respect and mutual accountability. • Necessity to move away from a fragmented EU-Africa relationship and to adapt the existing policies and instruments accordingly • Increased participation of non-state actors, in policy-formulation, implementation and evaluation through a structured multi-stakeholder dialogue mechanism • Upgrade the EU-Africa partnership by building alliances within global fora

  6. Governance, democracy & human rights • African grown initiatives and instruments should be supported by the EU : EU governance initiative • Key role of the local level and civil society in ensuring governance • Widespread violations of human rights in Africa: opportunity for the EU to strengthen its support to African human rights mechanisms. • The joint Strategy should provide a framework to discuss contentiousissues such as Zimbabwe • Mutual accountability is key : ‘governance of aid’

  7. Key development issues • MDGs: shared basis for the joint strategy. • EU to deliver on its ODA and aid effectiveness commitments. • Call for total African debt cancellation • Equal access to social services by all people to be ensured in order to achieve the MDGs: vulnerable groups, gender • Migration : need to address root causes, brain drain, foreign remittances, role of diaspora, protection of the rights of migrants and refugees • Health and education must remain a priority • Europe’s specific responsibility in climate change should be recognised

  8. Trade and regional integration • EU should modify its agricultural policy in a more development oriented manner • Strong recommendations on EPAs : • to integrate safeguard mechanisms into the EPAs, • to grant the developing countries preferential treatment, • to extend the timeframe for the EPA negotiations, • Supply side constraints should be further addressed and public-private partnerships enhanced • Private sector could be more structurally associated to policy formulation and implementation • Africa’s own integration process should be supported

  9. Peace and security • Close link between development and security but influence of other policies (trade, energy): EU and African engagements should be ‘conflict sensitive’. • Peace and security should be based on human security with a sustained holistic approach • Conflict prevention should be prioritised • Supporting African capacity / ownership of conflict prevention and resolution through APSA is a priority • Local / civil society participation and ownership : fundamental for sustainable and effective peace and development efforts • Control of arms trading and mercenary pursuit

  10. Which civil society concerns are reflected in the 15 May outline? • 3 reports presented to the joint expert meeting • Some correspondence between civil society ideas and experts, i.e. peace and security • Some consensual ideas integrated : • Acknowledgment of the role of civil society • Action plan • Right to development, human security • Support to African’s own integration process • Equal access to social services by women and vulnerable groups => Which concerns are not reflected yet?

  11. Possible agenda issues for the second phase of the consultation • EPAs : Lisbon Summit high jacked by EPAs? • More pro-development European agricultural policy • Stronger integration of the role of civil society as a governance player, EU governance initiative, human rights • Promotion of conflict sensitive policies by the EU and Africa • Migration : outline focusing on the Tripoli Declaration => Some aspects not included : endorsement of international convention on migrants rights and protection

  12. Possible agenda issues for the second phase of the consultation • Delivery of EU commitments in terms of ODA level and aid effectiveness : 10th EDF • African debt cancellation : double standards • Added value of the future joint Strategy compared to existing agreements and instruments • Definition of concretecommitments to beef up the outline • Civil society “moving from consultation to involvement” : how will the monitoring mechanisms be conceived in order to involve civil society?

  13. Timeframe until the Lisbon Summit Institutional negotiations: • Regular joint expert meetings • EU-Africa joint Ministerial in October : more finalised version of the Strategy • Lisbon Summit : beginning of December • Decision making process carried out both in Europe and in Africa : AU Executive Council, EU Council of Ministers Civil society events: • EU-Africa civil society conference organised by the Portuguese NGO platform : 29-31 October • EU-Africa Youth Forum organised by the North South Centre in December

  14. Conclusion Process opportunities • In Europe: reflection on how to start a more structural dialogue between EU civil society and EU experts on this topic • How to link the various civil society initiatives in Europe and Africa? • Joint lobbying Strategy Conclusions • How to influence the agenda of the Summit? • Key question: what will the joint Strategy change in EU-Africa relations?

  15. Thank you for your attention… Marie-Laure de Bergh mdb@ecdpm.org For more information : www.europafrica.org www.ecdpm.org

More Related