On Monday 28 November, European ministers for development said in Brussels that developing countries' universal access to clean and sustainable energy at an affordable price is essential in helping eradicate poverty and in helping implement the UN's 2030 universal agenda for sustainable development (see EUROPE 11677).
The conclusions on energy and development adopted by the Council of the EU focus on energy as a priority component of EU-led development policy. The same goes for meeting Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number 7, and also for SDG number 13 on climate action, the conclusions state.
Africa targeted. The Council reaffirms the commitment taken by the EU and its member states to help the partner countries provide access to energy for 500 million people by 2030 while favouring renewable energy. It encourages the EU and the 28 member states to promote public-private partnerships, to foster regular political dialogue on sustainable energy with all the developing countries, and to establish action plans on energy and climate diplomacy with a view to promoting innovative and mutually beneficial solutions. This political dialogue should be strengthened with Africa, ahead of the 2017 EU-Africa summit, the conclusions state.
The Council says its supports the Initiative for Renewable Energy in Africa that was launched by the African heads of state at COP 21 under the aegis of the African Union, which aims to mobilise US$10 million between 2015 and 2020. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)