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Joint Africa-EU Strategy: Insights from Europe

Explore the implementation and monitoring of the Joint Africa-EU Strategy since 2008. Key innovations, challenges, and future prospects discussed. Stay informed with ECDPM's analysis.

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Joint Africa-EU Strategy: Insights from Europe

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  1. Joint Africa-EU Strategy (JAES) – State of PlayAn Independent Perspective from EuropeVeronika Tywuschik & James Mackie (ECDPM)

  2. ECDPM • Independent foundation based in Maastricht & Brussels • Specialising in ACP-EU and AU-EU relations • Facilitation of dialogue • Practical analysis and information • Capacity and partnership development • Three ECDPM programmes: • Trade & Economic Cooperation • Governance • Development Policy & International Relations (DPIR) • ECDPM & the Joint Africa-EU Strategy • Facilitation of public consultation on Joint Strategy (2007) • Non partisan support to players in Joint Strategy process • Website (europafrica.net) as an independent platform for dialogue and discussion on Joint Strategy • Monthly E-mail Bulletin on Africa-EU Relations

  3. Structure of the Presentation • 1st part: • Overview of the JAES implementation and monitoring process since 2008 • 2nd part: • JAES and REC involvement • Potential future engagement

  4. ECDPM Analysis Primarily Drawn From • Beyond Structures: Reflections on the Implementation of the • Joint Africa-EU Strategy • Veronika Tywuschik & Andrew Sheriff (2009) • www.ecdpm.org/dp87

  5. Backgroundto the JAES • Adopted at the EU-Africa Heads of State Summit in Lisbon in December 2007 • A “joint” strategy developed after the EU unilaterally developed its “EU Strategy for Africa” in 2005 • JAES is not a legal framework – but a jointly agreed Strategy • Drivers - globalization, geopolitical considerations, political integration, ‘relative failure’ of past joint agreements between Europe and Africa • Cotonou Agreement remains in place as the main legal framework of EC-Africa development cooperation – but more limited as does not cover EU MS programmes

  6. Key Innovations related to the JAES • Treating Africa as one • Continent to Continent Dialogue • Conscious attempt to address lack of policy complementarity (between EC, EU member-states different policies) • Shared global positions between the continents • The African Union as the interlocutor • Clear institutional innovations (new Joint Africa-EU structures) • Moving beyond traditional development issues to global issues

  7. Membership of thematic partnerships drawn from EU MS, African states and European and African CSOs • Priority actions and Joint Africa-EU Expert Groups (JEGs) for each thematic partnership • JEGs each co-chaired by an African & a European MS or Commission

  8. Key Developments in the JAES Process in 2008 A year of primarily setting up the Institutional Architecture (the main achievement of 2008) Beginning of a Continent to Continent Dialogue Redefining old Joint Structures – EU-Africa Ministerial Troika’s, EU Commission to AU Commission meetings, Joint Africa-EU Task Force New Joint Structures - Joint Expert Working Groups for each thematic Partnership (JEGs), African and EU Implementation Teams, enlarged Joint Africa-EU Task Force , Joint Meetings of EU Political and Security Committee and AU Peace and Security Committee Joint EU-Africa Declaration on Climate Change

  9. What is happening with the JAES in 2009 • 1st Semester: • Clarifying of positions and priorities (African and European Implementation teams in each thematic area and JEGs) • Joint Africa-EU Task Force (17-18 March 2009) widening its membership beyond the two Commissions to JEG groups (Member States) • JEGs 2nd meetings finalized “Priorities and Action Plan” in a “Road Map” (28 April 2009) • Joint Africa-EU Ministerial Troika (28 April 2009) • 2nd Semester • Finance seminar (Sept 09) • Possible European and African CSO Forum (Sept-Oct 09?) • JEGs 3rd meetings (Oct-Nov 09) • College to College meeting (Oct. 09) • Mid Term Review of Progress (Oct-Nov 09) • Ministerial Troika (beginning of Nov 09)

  10. Main Challenges - Going Forward for the (JAES) • One year is too early to judge progress – but judging will start nonetheless • Overcoming wider mistrust through dialogue and deed • Resourcing (Money!) the Strategy and its thematic partnerships • Complementarity with other (EU and bilateral) policy frameworks • Asymmetric partnership between Africa and Europe • African and European political integration processes • Extending ownership beyond the Brussels – Addis Ababa axis • Building critical awareness from progress • Management of an inclusive process • Being clear about the consequences of failure

  11. The RECs and the JAES process • Officially all RECs invited to be part of JAES implementation • Little participation at start → African co-chairs and AU agreed to mobilize RECs • 2009: COMESA, ECCAS, SADC, EAC have all announced their interest in several partnerships • RECs mentioned in general terms in all EU-Africa documents • Roadmaps of different partnerships highlight where RECs are specifically involved (projects) • However: no RECs in official JAES meetings besides some engagement in JEGs

  12. Using the RECs’ expertise in the JAES

  13. RECs involvement in JAES partnerships: 2 cases • Peace and Security Partnership: • APSA & Regional Stand-By Brigades central to the partnership • Operationalisation of APSA requires strong cooperation between AU and RECs – MoU on APSA – respective responsibilities, needs, action plans • JAES provides framework for EU MS support to APSA • EU GSC visiting ECOWAS, ECCAS, NARC, SADC • Trade, Regional Integration & Infrastructure Partnership: • Implementation of Minimum Integration Programme (MIP) by RECs: discussed by Conference of African Ministers in Charge of Regional Integration (COMAI) • RECs involvement in harmonisation of standards & norms • Monitoring of EPAs and discussion on Aid for Trade

  14. Promoting Involvement of RECs in JAES • Promote active participation in Expert Groups • Attend official meetings of the JAES structures such as: the AU-PSC / EU-COPS meeting, Joint Task Force, etc • Consider how best to circulate information and encourage involvement • Close liaison with AUC essential • Enhanced role of the REC Liaison Officers at the AUC to cover JAES work systematically? • Link with EU through EC delegations & MS missions • Also link up with other JAES actors in Africa: civil society, parliamentarians, etc • Official JAES website: http://africa-eu-partnership.org/

  15. Thank You • More information can be obtained from our website: • www.europafrica.net and • www.europafrique.net • Or through email: • James Mackie jm@ecdpm.org, • Veronika Tywuschik vt@ecdpm.org & • Andrew Sherriff as@ecdpm.org • Or from the official JAES website: • www.africa-eu-partnership.org

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