Report back from the ETTG Informal meeting, 28 Oct. 2013, Brussels Geert Laporte & Faten Aggad EU-Africa Joint Task Force Meeting, 29 October 2013

1. Looking beyond 2013:
Are EU-Africa relations
still fit for purpose?
Report back from the ETTG
Informal meeting, 28 Oct. 2013,
Brussels
Geert Laporte & Faten Aggad
EU-Africa Joint Task Force Meeting, 29 October 2013

2. Structure
• 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
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3. Context of the meeting
• 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
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4. Long standing issues in the EUAfrican partnership
• 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)
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5. Key “Process” elements that can
contribute to a smoother EUAfrica partnership
• 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 coresponsibility:
 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
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6. Key Messages for the Summit
• 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, post2015)
• Focus on implementation (i.e. treat Africa as
one)
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7. Thank you
www.ecdpm.org
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