Brussels, 10/11/2008 (Agence Europe) - EU Foreign Ministers believe that the European Union, Africa and China should establish trilateral dialogue and cooperation to promote peace and security, and contribute to efforts to achieve the Millennium Development goals in Africa, as the European Commission sets out in its communication of 17 October (see EUROPE 9768).
Meeting in Brussels on 10 November, ministers thanked the Commission for its communication. In its conclusions, the Council says it would seem advantageous to coordinate the EU's and China's efforts more closely around priorities which reflect Africa's needs. It considers that establishing a trilateral dialogue, following on from the initiatives taken since the 2006 EU-China Summit, will strengthen the EU's bilateral partnerships with both China and Africa, including the African Union, by enabling common interests and areas for cooperation to be identified. In the opinion of the Council, this trilateral dialogue will support the efforts undertaken by Africa and by the international community to promote democratisation, political and economic integration, good governance and respect for human rights. The Council wants particular attention to be placed on cooperation in the areas of peace and security, since it believes that, together, the EU and China can contribute to the stability of the African countries and to strengthening African crisis management capabilities. In the interests of effectiveness, the Council wishes this trilateral cooperation to be developed progressively in the existing fora and within the framework of the structures established in the bilateral partnerships, the Council says. Council stresses the desirability of a common approach to improving the effectiveness of official development assistance and preventing crises of over-indebtedness, taking account of the Paris declaration and the Accra Action Plan. The European Commission and member states are requested to examine these proposals in great detail and participate actively in the process of implementing concrete proposals. (A.N./transl.rt)