*** modified on Monday 14th February, 9:30 am ***
On Friday 11 February, the EU-27 ambassadors to the EU (Coreper) again discussed preparations for the EU-African Union (AU) summit on 17-18 February, which is expected to result in a joint strategy for a stronger strategic partnership between Europe and Africa.
On the same day, five European Commissioners concluded their official visit to Senegal, where they had accompanied Ursula von der Leyen, to strengthen bilateral cooperation and prepare the summit in the country holding the rotating presidency of the African Union (see EUROPE 12888/1).
Ambassadors were informed that the African Union’s comments on the draft political declaration were this time received after the African Union summit on 5-6 February (see EUROPE 12885/10).
Migration and the issue of TRIPS agreements at the WTO for access to vaccines are among the issues that will require adjustment.
Negotiations to this end are underway between the office of the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the African Union.
On migration, several delegations indicated that their governments would have little room to negotiate.
The issue of the 100 billion special drawing rights (SDRs) that rich countries would voluntarily cede to African countries is also an important issue for Africans, in line with the Paris summit on financing African economies, the ambassadors noted (see EUROPE 12721/2).
Delegations from EU member states that are not yet participating have been invited to see if their countries could do so, a diplomatic source told EUROPE.
In Dakar, the European Commissioner for Migration, Ylva Johansson, stressed that smugglers and traffickers of human beings must be combated, but that “migration is a natural phenomenon that we must manage together”. “Circular migration is also part of a mutually beneficial partnership” in which the Commission wants to invest more, she said. She also spoke of increased support for the African diaspora legally established in the EU and looked forward to their investment opportunities in their home countries.
Preparations for the summit are well underway, but the list of flagship projects that will underpin the 7 thematic round tables has yet to be finalised, as has the final list of participants.
The African Union has issued invitations to all its member countries except the four currently suspended countries (Burkina Faso, Guinea Conakry, Mali and Sudan).
An additional Coreper meeting may be scheduled, possibly on Tuesday 15 February. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)