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

2. 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 Bulletin on Africa-EU Relations

3. 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

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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

10. 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)

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. Joint Africa-EU Strategy Partnerships
RECs in revised African Expert Groups ( )
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

16. 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:

17. Thank You More information can be obtained from our website:
and
Or through
James Mackie
Veronika Tywuschik &
Andrew Sherriff
Or from the official JAES website: