Annex 1: 18th EU —
Africa Ministerial Troika Meeting
Brussels, 15 May 2007: Extracts on the EU-Africa
Dialogue from the Final Communiqué
"In the framework of the EU-Africa dialogue,
the 8th Ministerial Meeting of the EU and African Troikas
took place in Brussels, Belgium, on 15 May 2007. The meeting of
Ministers was co-chaired by the Secretary General/High Representative
for Common Foreign and Security Policy of the Council of the European
Union, Dr Javier Solana and H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo,
Foreign Minister of the Republic of Ghana and current chairperson
of the African Union (AU) Executive Council.
"The African troika was also composed of H.E.
Ambassador Raymond Serge Bale, representing the Minister of Foreign
Affairs of the Republic of Congo, Dr. Maxwell M. Mkwezalamba,
Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Ambassador Said Djinnit,
AU Commissioner for Peace and Security.
"The EU Troika was also composed of Minister
of State at the Federal Foreign Office of Germany, Mr. Gernot
Erler, the Minister of State and Foreign Affairs of Portugal,
H.E. Luis Amado and Mr Olli Rehn Commissioner for Enlargement,
European Commission.
1) EU/Africa Dialogue
a. Discussion and endorsement of the Joint
EU-Africa Strategy outline
"Ministers welcomed and endorsed the Joint EU-Africa
Strategy Outline as elaborated by the EU/Africa Expert Troika.
They recognised it as an excellent basis for the elaboration of
a fully fledged Joint Strategy that provides for a solid foundation
for an ambitious and long term strategic partnership between the
EU and Africa that delivers concrete positive results for the
people in Africa, Europe and beyond. They agreed that it also
provides a clear framework for the future relations of the two
continents with value added in the pursuit of the four objectives
identified in the outline, namely: (1) to reinforce and elevate
the EU-Africa political partnership to address issues of common
concern; (2) to continue to promote peace, security, sustainable
development, human rights and regional and continental integration
in Africa; (3) to jointly address global challenges; and (4) to
facilitate and promote a broad-based and wide-ranging people-centred
partnership.
"Ministers tasked the EU/Africa Experts Troika
to continue its important work and to draft without delay, and
in continued consultations with all stakeholders, including the
civil society, a Joint EU/Africa Strategy and an initial action
plan to be presented to the next EU/Africa Ministerial Troika
in the second half of 2007 with a view to its adoption at the
second EU/Africa Summit in Lisbon. The next EU-Africa Ministerial
Troika will review progress in this regard.
"Both sides agreed that the Joint Strategy would
have to be a concise document, which will embody an EU-African
consensus of values, common interests and strategic objectives.
Both parties stressed that this document should comprise political,
economic and social as well as operational elements including
a mechanism to monitor its implementation.
b. Preparation of the EU-Africa Summit in
Lisbon
"Welcoming the intensification of the EU-Africa
dialogue, Ministers agreed to expedite work towards the holding
of the second EU-Africa Summit in Lisbon in December 2007, which
should mark the beginning of a new strategic partnership for the
21st century.
"Both sides agreed that the Summit will need
to secure broad and high level participation from the AU and all
African countries and the EU and its Member States, and that it
has to focus on substantive outcomes among which should figure
most prominently a Joint EU/Africa Strategy and an initial action
plan".
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