www.europafrica.org

How was the first phase of negotiations (Feb-May)?

The African Union and the European Union met the week of the 19th to 23rd of February to start discussions on the new joint EU-Africa Strategy. The aim of the meeting was to identify the challenges the new Strategy needs to address as well as to establish a shared vision between both parties that should lay the foundations of the new partnership between Europe and Africa. The discussions in the form of brainstorming sessions were organised on a thematic basis (Shared Vision; Peace and Security; Governance and Human Rights; Regional Integration and Trade; Key Development issues) and allowed for a first exchange of ideas between both sides.

• Joint AU-EU press release on launch of public consultation - html ; doc
• Joint AU-EU press release on the first Experts Meeting on the EU-Africa Joint Strategy (Brussels, 19-23 February 2007) - pdf
• ECDPM summary report on the first Experts Meeting on the EU-Africa Joint Strategy (Brussels, 19-23 February 2007) - doc

Several meetings followed up until the EU-Africa Ministerial Troika meeting on 15 May. The officials continued the discussions from the initial brainstorming held in February and drafted an outline of the strategy, which was approved at the Ministerial Troika meeting. The issues raised in the public consultation were presented by ECDPM at these meetings, including the final reports from the first phase, which you can see here.

• Joint AU-EU press release on the second Experts Meeting on the EU-Africa Joint Strategy (Addis Ababa, 23-24 March 2007) - doc
• Outline of the joint EU-Africa Strategy: 15 May 2007 - pdf
• ECDPM paper (June, 2007): ‘What is the state of the debate and to what extent are civil society recommendations reflected in the outline?’ - html ; doc.

What was the road to Lisbon (May-Dec)?

The officials continued to work on the outline of the Joint Strategy that was approved in May, in order to present a final version at the Lisbon summit. In addition, an Action Plan was drafted that provided more concrete directions for implementation. Apart from discussions on the joint Strategy, experts also prepared the Lisbon Summit itself: the agenda, the Lisbon Declaration, etc…

Two significant official events were planned:

• 31 October: the revised Joint Strategy and the Action Plan, were presented at the Joint Ministerial Troika Meeting in Accra.
• Beginning of December: the Joint Strategy and the Action Plan were approved at the EU-Africa Summit in Lisbon.

In preparation of these, several expert and drafting committee meetingshave taken place in Africa and Europe. You can find the exact dates in the calendar of 2007 (pdf).

Which officials have taken part in the negotiations?

The main negotiations took place in meetings held between experts from the EU and the AU to prepare the Strategy drafts that were presented at the Ministerial Troika Meetings. The meetings were held interchangeably in Africa and Europe, mostly in Addis Ababa and Brussels.

The AU was represented by the African delegation, namely the last two presidencies (Ghana and Congo), as well as the AU Commission. From the AU Commission, most departments were involved under the lead of the Economic Affairs department, which is in charge of the political dialogue with the EU. Several countries were also part of the Africa delegation as chef de files on specific thematic issues (there were nominated chefs de file in the framework of the Cairo dialogue after the first EU-Africa Summit in 2000):
- Algeria (peace and security);
- Egypt (cultural goods);
- Nigeria (debt);
- Senegal (migration);
- Tunisia (aid);
- Libya (food security);
- Morocco (environment);
- South Africa (trade and regional integration).
Note that, although not a member of the AU, Morocco has participated in the meetings as the chef de file for the environment.

The EU was represented by members of the troika - that were at that time the European Commission, the Council Secretariat, the present Presidency (Portugal) and the upcoming one (Slovenia). In the first half of 2007 this also included the previous presidency (Germany).

The individuals concerned are either Ambassadors or Senior Officials.

If you want more information about the officials negotiating, please send us an e-mail: europafrica@ecdpm.org