Brussels, 23/11/2005 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 21 November, European Union foreign ministers examined texts that will serve as a base for the new EU Strategy for Africa that the Heads of State and Government are to adopt during the European Council in December (see EUROPE 9073). In his contribution presented in parallel to the European Commission's proposal, Javier Solana stresses that, in order to create the conditions for development and democracy, the challenges of peace and security in Africa have to be met. This means a European Union ESDP mission in partnership with the African Union, a mission that is financed accordingly with the development of new instruments and adequate resources. “We need better tools and increased financial resources for ESDP support to African partners (either regional/sub-regional organisations or States)”, Javier Solana writes, mainly speaking of support for a broad African training agenda covering both military and civilian aspects and the organisation of training by European operators under RECAMP (Ed.: RECAMP is a training programme set up by France in partnership with other countries).