Brussels, 14/05/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 14 May, the EU Council of Ministers approved an action plan to reinforce African crisis management capabilities. This plan is part of the Africa-EU partnership, with African ownership the guiding principle.
The plan contains four objectives and ten proposals, with an outline timetable. The first objective focuses on the prevention of conflict and brings together activities to support the setting up of structures, staff recruitment and the implementation of a continent-wide rapid alarm system. European efforts are most likely to be focused on the second objective - the training and preparation of African troops. In the coming weeks and months, priority will be given to identifying the needs of African training centres, to drawing up a catalogue of European training schemes which could be open to African countries, to funding the involvement of African staff in international training activities and exercises, and to the europeanisation of the French programme to reinforce the African RECAMP peace keeping capacity. The third objective - support for operations - covers aid to the creation of the African Stand-by Forces' logistical capacity and contribution to AU planning activities in Addis Abeba. The final objective relates to post-conflict reconstruction. (oj)