The Heads of State or Government of the EU27 will discuss, on the morning of Friday 16 October, relations with Africa in order to prepare the next steps before the European Union-African Union summit, initially scheduled for this October, but postponed to 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic (see EUROPE 12564/4).
It will be a “a strategic discussion on our relations with Africa, with a view to our upcoming meeting with African Union leaders. Our objective is to renew and deepen our political relations, taking them to a higher level, based on mutual respect and the willingness to accommodate each other’s interests”, writes the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, in his letter of invitation to the European Council.
A senior European official said on Wednesday that “in view of the upcoming high-level meeting, it is important to prepare the parameters of the future relationship with Africa”.
The debate is intended to send a political signal to keep the momentum going. “We want to show that we don’t want to drop this issue despite the cancellation [of the October EU-AU summit]”, another source said.
The draft conclusions emphasise the priority the EU gives to strengthening the EU-AU strategic partnership, Africa being “a natural partner for the European Union”, and the importance of deepening and renewing cooperation in all areas in order to address together “the many short- and long-term challenges” in a changing world.
The text stresses in this regard that “solidarity and close cooperation in the fight against Covid-19, vaccine development and distribution are essential” and confirms the European Council’s commitment to strengthen its support to African countries in response to this crisis, whether this be in terms of strengthening the health systems and response capacity of African countries or the international debt relief initiative aimed at helping the poorest countries to cope with the impact of the pandemic.
The leaders of the EU27 are expected to ask the EU Council “to prepare a common approach in this regard by the end of November 2020”.
The discussion will focus in particular on the EU’s desire to work with its African partners on a multi-sectoral, multi-level and multi-stakeholder investment programme to foster Africa’s economic transformation.
The European Council should identify the sectors which it considers essential for intensified cooperation and investment, namely the digital and knowledge economy, renewable energies, transport, health and agri-food systems.
Gender equality, youth inclusion, education and skills, social, environmental and economic sustainability and good governance should be mentioned as important cross-cutting issues.
EU support for economic integration between the two continents and for African efforts to promote peace and security are also included in the draft conclusions.
The European Council should also refer to the EU’s wish “to engage African partners in addressing mobility and migration issues both among themselves and between the two continents” – a formulation sufficiently vague to be agreed upon by all.
To see the draft conclusions: https://bit.ly/33RcDWe (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)