EU-AU RELATIONS: PROSPECTS AND CHALLENGES

2016

This paper provides an overview of the European Union's relations with Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) in the fields of peace and security and development cooperation. Africa and Europe are close neighbours and the EU has a strong interest in strengthening relations with SSA countries and organisations. The EU's complex and multi-layered development cooperation in Africa is presented, analysing the main agreements and some critical issues, such as the link with trade liberalisation over development or conditionality to incentivise democratic governance. At the same time, addressing the instability of the African continent represents a major concern for EU Member States, as they are experiencing its repercussions in terms of irregular immigration, drugs, arms and human trafficking, terrorism and organised crime. The main strategic strands and tools of the EU as a peace and security provider in Africa are presented and analysed. On the basis of the most recent trends in the EU's development and security relations with SSA, the paper formulates a series of policy recommendations for the EU and the US on how to engage in SSA, also triangulating with other global powers.

2019

2009

The principle of joint development cooperation efforts to be undertaken by European Community (EC) member states, and the possibility for former colonies to be associated with the EC, were already recognized in the Treaty of Rome as signed in 1957. The initial thrust of development policy was on preserving privileged trading relationshenceforth to be shared among all EC member states-and on jointly funded capital assistance to develop the former colonial territories. The motivation and ethos of EC policy towards Africa remained largely linked with the colonial model for decades, with efforts being steered from Brussels. The thrust was only gradually adapted, aided by successive phases of EC enlargement and the end of the Cold War. The past has left a heavy legacy on European Union-Africa relations. On the European Union (EU) side, development cooperation flowed largely from the colonial link and was assisted and/or burdened by its attitudes and expectations, including privileged trade relations and somewhat paternalistic approaches to development. On the African side, mixed feelings about the colonial past, as well as the often bitter experience of moving towards independence, left a strong anti-colonial reflex. It has taken many years, as well as moving to a partnership approach, to overcome mutual suspicions. EU-Africa relations have gradually adapted to reflect a widening scope of mutual concerns. Plenty of challenges remain, including overcoming the European tendency to expect Africans to accept 'made-in-Brussels' solutions and African reluctance to address sensitive issues (in particular regarding governance and human rights) on which they fear becoming subject to oversight from EU sources. African integration processes, and EU support for them, should play a major role in propelling the development of Africa and in moving EU-Africa relations to a more productive and consensual phase. Summary of Recommendations EU representatives should talk to many people and create communication lines to various government bodies, as well as to civil society. Political dialogue should not be limited to formal exchanges. A high degree of informality is more likely to yield results.

2011

Journal of African Law, 2012

Within the context of the current debate on the institutional transformation of the African Union (AU), this article examines the position of the chairperson of the AU Commission (Commission). The importance of the Commission chairperson cannot be over-emphasized. As the head of the “engine room” of the AU, it is pertinent that s/he is given the requisite powers to oversee the proper functioning of the secretariat, which would in turn propel the progressive development of African integration. This article argues that the current intergovernmental nature of the AU, where real decision making powers are held by member states, curtails the Commission chairperson from playing a meaningful role in the integration process. It highlights certain fundamental factors for ensuring the relevance of the chairperson. These include the institutional transformation of the AU, a review of the eligibility requirements for the Commission chairperson, a broad-based election process and hybridized func...

2017

Implementation of the Joint Africa-EU Strategy (JAES) has taken place in a rapidly evolving political scenario at the global level and specifically within Europe and Africa. The overarching objectives identified in 2007 still remain valid, but concrete priorities now need to be adapted to the new reality. At the strategic level, a refinement of the Africa-EU partnership has become urgent following the adoption of Agenda 2063 and the EU Global Strategy. At policy level, lessons learned from the implementation of the Roadmap 2014-17 and the way ahead indicated in the Joint Communication of May 2017 should be taken into account. Ten years after its adoption and with a view to the next AU-EU Summit, being held in Abidjan on 29-30 November 2017, it is crucial to re-assess the strategy’s validity on the basis of achievements and shortfalls, also in its parliamentary dimension, with regard to the fulfilment of its objectives in an evolving context.

Full lecture and debates on video: http://kapuscinskilectures.eu/lectures/eu-partnership-with-africa-model-lost-in-translation/ "During the 2000s , emerging countries and a number of corporate players have come to see the African continent as a frontier and a pioneering front. The lecture argues that such representations do not apply to the analysis of Africa-EU interactions over the same period. Implementation of the ambitious objectives assigned to the first Action Plan of the Joint Africa-EU Strategic Partnership (JAES) launched in 2007 has been hampered by poor involvement and weak mobilisation on the part of both African and European member-states. ""

The WAI-ZEI Paper No. 10 deals with the future of the Joint Africa-EU Strategy (JAES). Building upon discussions during the Mid-Term Conference of the WAI-ZEI Cooperation in October 2013 in Praia, the four project coordinators in Praia and Bonn have elaborated a short analysis, which at the same time contains practical recommendations. Thematically, the paper is structured along the themes that will most probably form the core of the future Africa-EU Strategy. The geographical focus within Africa lies on West Africa while the conceptual focus is on the added value of improved structures of research, science and education. With this paper, the WAI-ZEI Cooperation wants to contribute to the debate on a more effective design of bi-regional relations.