Joint Africa-EU Strategy (JAES) – State of Play An Independent Perspective from Europe Veronika Tywuschik & James Mackie (ECDPM)

ECDPM Independent foundation based in Maastricht & Brussels Specialising in ACP-EU and AU-EU relations Facilitation of dialogue Practical analysis and information Capacity and partnership development Three ECDPM programmes: Trade & Economic Cooperation Governance Development Policy & International Relations (DPIR) ECDPM & the Joint Africa-EU Strategy Facilitation of public consultation on Joint Strategy (2007) Non partisan support to players in Joint Strategy process Website (europafrica.net) as an independent platform for dialogue and discussion on Joint Strategy Monthly E-mail Bulletin on Africa-EU Relations

Structure of the Presentation 1st part: Overview of the JAES implementation and monitoring process since 2008 2nd part: JAES and REC involvement Potential future engagement

ECDPM Analysis Primarily Drawn From Beyond Structures: Reflections on the Implementation of the Joint Africa-EU Strategy Veronika Tywuschik & Andrew Sheriff (2009) www.ecdpm.org/dp87 Also available in French

Background to the JAES Adopted at the EU-Africa Heads of State Summit in Lisbon in December 2007 A “joint” strategy developed after the EU unilaterally developed its “EU Strategy for Africa” in 2005 JAES is not a legal framework – but a jointly agreed Strategy Drivers - globalization, geopolitical considerations, political integration, ‘relative failure’ of past joint agreements between Europe and Africa Cotonou Agreement remains in place as the main legal framework of EC-Africa development cooperation – but more limited as does not cover EU MS programmes

Key Innovations related to the JAES Treating Africa as one Continent to Continent Dialogue Conscious attempt to address lack of policy complementarity (between EC, EU member-states different policies) Shared global positions between the continents The African Union as the interlocutor Clear institutional innovations (new Joint Africa-EU structures) Moving beyond traditional development issues to global issues

Joint Africa-EU Strategy Action Plan and Thematic Areas 1. Peace and security 2. Democratic governance and human rights 3. Trade, regional integration and infrastructure 4. Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 5. Energy 6. Climate change 7. Migration, mobility and employment 8. Science, information society and space Membership of thematic partnerships drawn from EU MS, African states and European and African CSOs Priority actions and Joint Africa-EU Expert Groups (JEGs) for each thematic partnership JEGs each co-chaired by an African & a European MS or Commission

Key Developments in the JAES Process in 2008 A year of primarily setting up the Institutional Architecture (the main achievement of 2008) Beginning of a Continent to Continent Dialogue Redefining old Joint Structures – EU-Africa Ministerial Troika’s, EU Commission to AU Commission meetings, Joint Africa-EU Task Force New Joint Structures - Joint Expert Working Groups for each thematic Partnership (JEGs), African and EU Implementation Teams, enlarged Joint Africa-EU Task Force , Joint Meetings of EU Political and Security Committee and AU Peace and Security Committee Joint EU-Africa Declaration on Climate Change

What is happening with the JAES in 2009 1st Semester: Clarifying of positions and priorities (African and European Implementation teams in each thematic area and JEGs) Joint Africa-EU Task Force (17-18 March 2009) widening its membership beyond the two Commissions to JEG groups (Member States) JEGs 2nd meetings finalized “Priorities and Action Plan” in a “Road Map” (28 April 2009) Joint Africa-EU Ministerial Troika (28 April 2009) 2nd Semester Finance seminar (Sept 09) Possible European and African CSO Forum (Sept-Oct 09?) JEGs 3rd meetings (Oct-Nov 09) College to College meeting (Oct. 09) Mid Term Review of Progress (Oct-Nov 09) Ministerial Troika (beginning of Nov 09)

Main Challenges - Going Forward for the (JAES) One year is too early to judge progress – but judging will start nonetheless Overcoming wider mistrust through dialogue and deed Resourcing (Money!) the Strategy and its thematic partnerships Complementarity with other (EU and bilateral) policy frameworks Asymmetric partnership between Africa and Europe African and European political integration processes Extending ownership beyond the Brussels – Addis Ababa axis Building critical awareness from progress Management of an inclusive process Being clear about the consequences of failure

The RECs and the JAES process Officially all RECs invited to be part of JAES implementation Little participation at start → African co-chairs and AU agreed to mobilize RECs 2009: COMESA, ECCAS, SADC, EAC have all announced their interest in several partnerships RECs mentioned in general terms in all EU-Africa documents Roadmaps of different partnerships highlight where RECs are specifically involved (projects) However: no RECs in official JAES meetings besides some engagement in JEGs

Using the RECs’ expertise in the JAES REC areas of work & expertise JAES partnerships Peace & security: APSA 1. Peace and Security Economic development: Trade, regional integration, infrastructure, water, energy 3. Trade, Regional Integration & Infrastructure and 5. Energy MDGs/Poverty: Pandemics, food security 4. MDGs Environment & climate issues: aridity, agriculture 6. Climate Change Migration 7. Migration, Mobility & Employment

RECs involvement in JAES partnerships: 2 cases Peace and Security Partnership: APSA & Regional Stand-By Brigades central to the partnership Operationalisation of APSA requires strong cooperation between AU and RECs – MoU on APSA – respective responsibilities, needs, action plans JAES provides framework for EU MS support to APSA EU GSC visiting ECOWAS, ECCAS, NARC, SADC Trade, Regional Integration & Infrastructure Partnership: Implementation of Minimum Integration Programme (MIP) by RECs: discussed by Conference of African Ministers in Charge of Regional Integration (COMAI) RECs involvement in harmonisation of standards & norms Monitoring of EPAs and discussion on Aid for Trade

Joint Africa-EU Strategy Partnerships RECs in revised African Expert Groups (20.05.09) 1. Peace and security COMESA, ECCAS, SADC 2. Democratic governance and human rights COMESA, SADC 3. Trade, regional integration and infrastructure COMESA, EAC, ECCAS, SADC 4. Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) SADC 5. Energy 6. Climate change 7. Migration, mobility and employment COMESA 8. Science, information society and space

Promoting Involvement of RECs in JAES Promote active participation in Expert Groups Attend official meetings of the JAES structures such as: the AU-PSC / EU-COPS meeting, Joint Task Force, etc Consider how best to circulate information and encourage involvement Close liaison with AUC essential Enhanced role of the REC Liaison Officers at the AUC to cover JAES work systematically? Link with EU through EC delegations & MS missions Also link up with other JAES actors in Africa: civil society, parliamentarians, etc Official JAES website: http://africa-eu-partnership.org/

Thank You More information can be obtained from our website: www.europafrica.net and www.europafrique.net Or through email: James Mackie jm@ecdpm.org, Veronika Tywuschik vt@ecdpm.org & Andrew Sherriff as@ecdpm.org Or from the official JAES website: www.africa-eu-partnership.org