Making EU-Africa Relations Future Proof: Key questions in the run up to the Summit and the role of the PAP
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The document discusses the evolving context of EU-Africa relations ahead of a summit, stressing the need for a partnership based on mutual interests rather than dependency. It highlights challenges on both sides, including misperceptions and political tensions, and outlines the mixed results since the launch of the Joint Africa-EU Strategy in 2007. The Pan-African Parliament is positioned as a key actor to enhance dialogue and contribute to a more effective partnership through improved awareness and engagement with European institutions.
Making EU-Africa Relations Future Proof: Key questions in the run up to the Summit and the role of the PAP
- 1. Key questions in the run up to the Summit and the role of the PAP Faten Aggad, Program Manager, Africa’s Change Dynamics Program Presentation to the Pan-African Parliament 17 March 2014 Making EU-Africa relations future-proof
- 2. Part 1: General • Evolving context • The ‘psychology’ of the partnership Part 2: The JAES • Implementation of the JAES • Questions to be addressed Part 3: Issues for the way forward • Principles of the partnership Part 4: PAP • The role of the PAP Overview of the presentation Page 2ECDPM
- 3. A new context in both continents, especially since 2007: - In Europe: Economic, financial and political crisis, in- ward looking while looking for opportunities to reestablish influence externally, increasing challenges to balance values and interests - In Africa: unprecedented economic growth in most countries, diversification of partners, challenge of rising inequality and a youth bulge - Globally: a shifting balance of economic and political power An Evolving context… ECDPM Page 3
- 4. “Misperceptions are on both sides: in Europe and in Africa… in Europe not all countries are former colonial powers. The EU is not a homogeneous group…Africa is also not only a continent of poverty and wars” – Speaker at the AUC-ECDPM meeting, Addis 28 February ‘14 Perceptions continue to shape the partnership on both sides… ECDPM Page 4
- 5. - Europe has problems of credibility and consistency (i.e. “EPAs are a well-intentioned diplomatic disaster”, Difficulties in reconciling EU value driven agenda with EU security and economic interests, who ‘leads’ Europe?, etc.) - Africa can also do more (“aid is a necessity for some African countries but not a necessity for Africa”? perception of dependence on EU funding, difficulty to ‘speak with one voice’, etc.) Both continents have work to do to address perceptions ECDPM Page 5
- 6. The partnership since Lisbon (2007) ECDPM Page 6
- 7. The Lisbon Declaration(2007) launching the Joint Africa-EU Strategy was an ambitious, strategic and aimed to establish a political partnership: • Continent to continent partnership • Treating Africa as one • Partnership beyond aid (8 key areas) • Dealing with issues of common concern and interest • Multi-actor involvement What happened since Lisbon, 2007? ECDPM Page 7
- 8. But mixed results: • Limited political traction • Diverse implementation of 8 partnerships: each at its own pace, various dialogues and processes (i.e. positive cooperation around the energy partnership but limited progress on migration, etc.) • Political tensions hindered progress : EPAs, ICC, major security crises • “‘Inertia’ is the term associated with the partnership according to consulted African stakeholders” • “Strategies are supposed to create coherence of action but the JAES created a fragmented approach What happened since Lisbon, 2007? ECDPM Page 8
- 9. High-level political leadership & Improve quality of dialogue Align partnershi§ps to continental agendas: “Relations should be redefined in the framework of mutual interests” The appropriate institutional framework supportive of different stakeholders involvement Making the JAES work ECDPM Page 9
- 10. • Changed in perceptions and mentalities key for a constructive, mutually beneficial partnership • Openly discuss mutual and shared interests • The EU needs to move beyond ‘conditionality’ towards ‘shared-responsibility’ • Africa: support “home grown” initiatives, review strategic partnerships and mobilise own resources to maintain independence of action (= tackling longstanding asymmetry in the partnership) • Agree to disagree on some issues Guiding principles for the future? ECDPM Page 10
- 11. Key actor in the institutional set-up and can potentially play a more important role by intensifying dialogue with the European Parliament (EP) The Role of the Pan-African Parliament ECDPM Page 11
- 12. Contribute in improving the national- continental- international nexus (Cotonou-JAES link) Raise awareness and strengthen dialogue around African priorities with the EP, which is expected to play a more central role in financing Support efforts on political dialogue around sensitive issues (i.e. EPAs, ICC, LGBT rights, etc.) Monitoring and oversights on questions that the PAP committees deal with The Role of the Pan-African Parliament ECDPM Page 12