Brussels, 13/09/2013 (Agence Europe) - A new era for all Somalis and for relations between Somalia and the international community will be ushered in in Brussels on Monday 16 September (Palais d'Egmont), with the international conference on “A New Deal for Somalia”, to be co-chaired by the federal government of Somalia and the European Union (see EUROPE 10900). Focusing on recent political progress in light of the steps forward made by Somalia in establishing the foundations of a state, this high-level conference is expected to lead to a mutual political commitment to key priorities at political, economic and security level, and new support for the reconstruction of the country over the next three years, ahead of the general elections scheduled for 2016.
The conference will bring together the ministers of many countries (including all states of the region, the member states of the EU, the United States, Japan and China) and representatives of international organisations and Somali civil society, at three working sessions based on a new political order, the reconstruction of the economic and social foundations of Somalia, the establishment of the rule of law and security. Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Hermann van Rompuy, President of the European Council, and Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, will kickstart this event, which has been described by the EU as a landmark stage.
The Somali president will present the international community with the political, security and development priorities of his country, steered by the principles of the New Deal for Fragile States approved in Busan in 2011 at the UN conference on the effectiveness of aid. He makes no secret of his expectation of pledges of donations from the international community. These pledges will be made by the donors during each working session. The European Union has already announced an extra €124 million to fund the mission of the African Union in Somalia (AMISOM) (see EUROPE 10917) but, on Friday, was reserving any additional announcements for Monday.
The conference will culminate with the signature of the mutual political commitment on the priorities laid down (the Compact) and will be closed by Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission. On the eve of the conference, on Sunday 15 September, European Development Commissioner Andris Piebalgs will chair a meeting to hear the opinions of the Somalis and prepare a roadmap, together with the World Bank, the IMF and the African Development Bank, for loans from international financial institutions.
“We have not as yet put any figures to the Compact. It is a framework document, a living document, which has been the subject of broad consensus in the country on the priorities established, but the EU's announcement will be consistent with this”, Nick Westcott, Executive Director for Africa within the European External Action Service (EEAS), told the press on Friday. It is not possible at this stage to add to the numbers, as was the case at the conference of the donors for Mali. “The situation between the two countries is extremely different. Mali is a functioning state. Somalia is coming out of 20 years of conflict. Everything was destroyed. Everything needs rebuilding, capacities and expertise have been dispersed throughout the world”, he explained.
Alexander Rondos, EU Special Representative for the Horn of Africa, added: “There has been enough political progress to be able to establish a viable state. The progress has continued in the fight against the Al-Shabaab Islamists who are continuing their terrorist acts and killing Somalis, but also fighting amongst themselves. The Somalis and the international community are no longer at the stage of having to manage the consequences of the conflict, but of consolidating a Nation, for peace and stability. The fight against Al-Shabaab is not over. The fight against piracy will continue. We will not give up until the job is done”.
Somalia's formal accession to the Cotonou agreement will be an important time, with the submission on Monday of the ratification instrument which will make the country eligible for the resources of the European Development Fund (EDF), said Marcus Cornaro, Deputy Director General of DG DEVCO at the European Commission. He added that the Compact is solid, as shown by the five chapters it consists of: the state for all, justice for all, security for all, employment for all, basic services for all.
The EU has been a major donor to Somalia for decades and, for the period 2008-2013, it pledged €1.2 billion (€500 million for development cooperation and €700 million for security in the fight against piracy, including the €124 million announced for AMISON on 9 September). (AN/transl.fl)