The European Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen, gave MEPs, on Tuesday 11 February, indications on the content of the EU's future global strategy with Africa and assurances that a strengthened partnership of equals serving shared interests will be developed. MEPs agreed to make the relationship with Africa a high priority.
The strategy is expected to be presented on 5 March. “It will be a new strategy that supports Africa's political and economic potential, which supports governance efforts, a strategy that fosters peace and resilience, a strategy based on the commitment and ownership of African partners, a strategy that better positions the EU in the new global context by reflecting the objectives of a geopolitical European Commission and the ambition of the European Green Deal”, the Commissioner said (see EUROPE 12422/10, 12418/15).
The exchange was guided by questions from the Committee on Development. According to its President, Tomas Tobé (EPP, Sweden), the Commission wanted to know how this strategy will contribute to the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the goal of eradicating poverty, how it will contribute to common goals in terms of human rights, tackling inequalities and combating climate change and whether the Commission intends to involve as many stakeholders as possible in the development of this strategy.
A meeting of the European and African Commissions on 27 February in Addis Ababa and a ministerial meeting in May will provide "a forum for dialogue with African partners", the Commissioner said. She will travel to Africa in February and March to consult as many stakeholders as possible.
"This will not be a change in direction, but a scaling up for better results, a scaling up of efforts to achieve new results", including building on the achievements of the Africa/Europe Alliance for Investment and Employment, Urpilainen said.
The global nature of the strategy will be ensured through close links with the 2030 sustainable development agenda, the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, the EU's global strategy, the European Consensus on Development and the African Union Agenda 2063, she assured.
As a sign of continuity, work will continue on continental economic integration, human development, mobility and migration, peace and security, and the defence of the rules-based multilateral system, which is “increasingly challenged”.
In addition to pressing climate and environmental challenges, the focus will be on digitalisation and gender equality as development enablers.
Good governance and respect for human rights and democracy, without which "there can be no development", will occupy a prominent place.
“We will ensure that the implementation of this strategy supports youth, including women", the Commissioner also said. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)