Brussels, 14/11/2011 (Agence Europe) - In Brussels on Monday 14 November, the foreign affairs ministers of the EU, who are concerned by the insecurity and humanitarian crisis in the Horn of Africa, adopted a holistic EU strategy for the Horn of Africa and welcome the proposal by Catherine Ashton, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, to appoint a special representative for the region, whose mission will focus mainly on Somalia, in view of the regional dimension of the conflict and piracy. In their unanimous conclusions, the EU27 stressed that the instability in the region represents “a growing challenge not only for the security of the people” of the Horn of Africa, “but also the rest of the world”.
The framework strategy adopted by the Council translates the EU's commitment to the whole Horn of Africa region (Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopian, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan and Uganda), the countries of which are all members of IGAD (Inter-Governmental Authority for Development) and of the group of ACP states linked to the EU by the Cotonou agreement (South Sudan's accession is imminent). It also highlights its wish to support the people of the region to give them greater peace, stability, security, prosperity and governments accountable for their actions.
The main axes of this strategy will be as follows: - helping all countries of the region to set in place solid and responsible political and democratic structures; - working with the countries of the region and international organisations (particularly the United Nations and the African Union) to resolve the conflicts underway - particularly in Somalia and Sudan - and preventing any potential internal conflict or conflict with neighbouring countries in the future; - ensuring that the current insecurity in the region does not threaten other countries by acts of piracy, terrorism or illegal migration flows; - supporting efforts to reduce poverty and boost economic growth in all countries and to the benefit of the people of the region, to allow them to take advantage of globalisation rather than be its victims; -supporting regional political and economic cooperation and boost the role of the regional economic communities. These objectives will be pursued by stepping up existing partnerships.
The humanitarian aid effort deployed by the EU for the vulnerable populations of the Horn of Africa has so far exceeded a level of €760 million. The foreign ministers have pledged that this aid will continue, but have also stressed the need to attack the underlying causes of the crisis, particularly structural food insecurity, recurrent drought and conflict. (A.N./transl.fl)