Report back from the ETTG Informal meeting, 28 Oct. 2013,
BrusselsGeert Laporte & Faten Aggad
EU-Africa Joint Task Force Meeting, 29 October 2013
Looking beyond 2013: Are EU-Africa relations
still fit for purpose?
• Context of the meeting• Long standing issues in the EU-African
partnership• Key “Process” elements that can contribute
to a smoother EU-Africa partnership • Key Messages for the Summit
Structure
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• 2nd meeting in a series of informal meetings organised by ECDPM and its partners (ETTG) in the lead up to the Summit
• Provides platform for informal exchanges between European and African officials, think tanks and private sector to reflect on salient issues in the partnership
Context of the meeting
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• High level political dialogue diluted since 2007
• Addressing incoherence at both sides: EU: “Africa is the victim of a double
cooperation” (competition MS/Union), double standards in application of conditionalities)
Africa: Africa also needs to “do its homework” (i.e. speaking with one voice, change discourse vis-à-vis ‘colonial’ Europe, take financial responsibility for own institutions)
Long standing issues in the EU-African partnership
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• Do not shy away from disagreement: Find a political solution to the EPAs
• Regular High level and frank political dialogue on all controversial issues and respective interests
• Moving from conditionality to co-responsibility: EU: Align behind existing African institutions
and processes (APRM, AGA, APSA, etc.) Empower “drivers and constituencies for
change” Africa: Breaking the endemic dependency on
EU’s funding
Key “Process” elements that can contribute to a smoother EU-Africa partnership
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• Cut down priorities and identify where traction is (i.e. economic transformation, inclusive growth, transparency in natural resources, etc.)
• While addressing contentious issues (EPAs), in parallel also focus on areas where positive outcomes are possible (business-to-business cooperation, natural resources, etc.)
• Identify potential for influencing global agenda (climate, energy, bio-diversity, post-2015)
• Focus on implementation (i.e. treat Africa as one)
Key Messages for the Summit
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