Rebuilding confidence and commitments

Dr. Damien Helly

DEVE Committee European

Parliament, Brussels

3 March 2014

The implementation of the Joint Africa-EU Strategy

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Structure of the presentation

1. What has changed in Africa Europe relations? 2. The implementation of the JAES: lessons learned3. Flexible implementation works4. Institutional structure: heavy and only consultative5. Paradoxes and dilemma6. EU financing7. Towards the April Africa-EU Summit8. Priorities for the European Parliament9. Way forward: mentalities and attitudes

1. JAES: What has changed in the Africa-EU relationship?

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1. African “economic boom” but major challenges of sustainable and inclusive growth, unemployment and instability…

2. EU economic, financial & political crisis: inward looking, difficulties to reconcile values and interests

3. Emergence of new global players: more competitive context

2. The implementation of the JAES: lessons learned

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• Diverse implementation of 8 partnerships: each at its own pace, various dialogues and processes

• Flexible and imaginative stakeholders find a supportive framework in the JAES

• Unwillingness blocks cooperation and dialogue: EPAs, ICC, major security crises

2. The implementation of the JAES: lessons learned

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3. Flexible and imaginative implementation

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Partnership Implementation

Peace &securityInfrastructure

Pre-existing funding facilities allowed to develop beyond JAES

Trade and regional integration

Disconnect between EPAs negotiations and the JAES framework, but more engagement from thematic DGs of the EC

Democratic governance & human rights

Dialogue proved tough yet innovative solutions were experimented

Science, information society, space

Intensification of cooperation on research

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4. Institutional structure: heavy but only consultative

• One-size-fits-all model = inadequate

• Confusion on the level of implementation (continental, regional, national)

• No clear link with real decision-making bodies

5. Paradoxes and dilemmas

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Paradoxes Dilemmas

1. Leadership inconsistencies How to identify relevant leadership on both sides?

2. Cumbersome implementation structure

Tensions between efficiency, flexibility and the use of agreed structures.

3. Asymmetries in capacities- Tensions between asymmetry in capacities and progress with implementation;- Tensions between unlitateral EU planning and the spirit of the joint and co-financed partnership.

4. Asymmetries in financing Tensions between EU funding and limited African co-financing

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EU Budget

EIDHRCSDP

7th Framework Programme

(now Horizon 2020)

IfS

EU MS contributions Partnership Instrument

6. EU Financing of the JAES

European Development Fund

European Neighbourhood

Instrument

DCI

- PANAF- South

Africa- Thematic

lines

African Peace Facility

Africa EU

Infrastructure Fund

CFSP

• JAES: ambitious political vision and declaration still needed

• Recent efforts to address potential hurdles: EPAs, ICC, human rights, invitations

• Two options for the Summit:

7. Towards the Summit

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1) lower the political ambition of the JAES and make it more an

implementation focused agreement

2) mobilise political leadership by making

the JAES more interesting to the

political level.

8. Priorities for the JAES to be considered by the European Parliament

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1. Political level and in political declarations

• Identify political leadership and steering

• Commit to co-financed initiatives and joint decision–making on financing• Alignment on long-term African and European strategies

• Clarify level of intervention: African subisidiarity

2. Quality of dialogue and implementation

• Functional links with existing African and European decision-making structures

• Create space for informal multi-stakeholder dialogue

3. Monitoring and oversight

Strengthen mechanisms, defining the role of parliaments, civil society, and other bodies

1. Where are mutual interests?2. Africa also a land of opportunities

3. Which flagship initiatives should be singled out?

4. Is Europe clear about its strategic interests with Africa?

5. Whom in Africa and Europe wants Africa to be treated as one?

6. What after the end of Cotonou agreement in 2020?

9. Way forward: mentalities and attitudes

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Thank you!www.ecdpm.org

www.slideshare.net/ecdpm

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Questions to:Dr. Damien Helly, Policy Officer, ECDPM

dhe@ecdpm.org