Brussels, 16/06/2006 (Agence Europe) - Contributing to African efforts to attain the Millennium Development Goals and make Africa a stable and prosperous continent is the watchword of the EU Heads of State and Government and the main theme of their conclusions on Africa. They restate the importance that the EU attaches to strengthening political dialogue and their wish, in particular, for the second EU/Africa Summit to be held “as soon as possible” to this end. Engaged in continuing the implementation of the strategy for Africa, adopted last December, and their efforts for transforming it into a joint strategy, the European leaders confirm the EU agreement for providing financial support for the African Peace Facility, an instrument that will be maintained in 2008-2010. The EU Heads of State and Government restate the EU's support for the economic partnership agreements negotiated with ACP countries and stress the importance of setting in place an EU-Africa partnership on migration and development.
In Sudan, the EU will work in favour of full and rapid implementation of the Darfur Peace Agreement. It calls on Khartoum to put an end to the impunity and violence against displaced persons within their countries, and especially and end to sexual violence against women and girls. It confirms that it will continue to provide assistance to the African Union mission in Sudan (AMIS), taking into account the need to ensure smooth transition of AMIS from the AU to the United Nations in Darfur.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the EU calls on all political forces to keep on the road to peaceful and democratic change during the period leading to the elections scheduled to begin on 30 July. Conclusions confirm the upcoming deployment of the EUFOR RD Congo military operation for assisting MONUC (EUROPE 9211) and the strengthening of the EU police mission in Kinshasa (EUPOL-Kinshasa), as well as support for reform underway in the security sector via the EUSEC DRC mission and new initiatives aimed at good management of public affairs, transparency and a sound strategy for reconstruction. The EU unreservedly supports the process underway aimed at ensuring regional stability by organising the second summit for the African Great Lakes Region Conference as soon as possible.