Brussels, 14/12/2007 (Agence Europe) - The European Council welcomes the holding of the second EU/Africa Summit (8-9 December, Lisbon) and the resolve shown by both sides to move on to a new stage in their relations. It considers that the first common strategy and its corollary, the eight concrete partnerships adopted on this occasion (EUROPE 9561), will allow joint scrutiny of questions of mutual interest, including questions of global interest, while helping the EU to make a bigger contribution to development in Africa. The Council said it was aware that all players concerned should make an additional and joint effort so that tangible progress might be made at the third EU/Africa summit in 2010.
The same desire for pragmatism and results prevails in the conclusions of the European Council concerning measures that the EU could take to speed up the achievement of Millennium Development Goals (aimed at reducing poverty by half in the world by 2015). To this end, the Commission is invited to present a progress report by April 2008.
The EU27 welcome the conclusions adopted by the General Affairs/External Relations Council with a view to improving the EU's response to the situation of fragility experienced in the developing countries that receive EU support.
Still with a concern for increased effectiveness, the European Council welcomes the European consensus on humanitarian aid recently approved by the EU, and which will be formally signed by the Parliament, Council and Commission on 18 December (EUROPE 9558). (A.N.)