Summary: November 5, 2001: Development of Africa. Final review and evaluation of the implementation of the New Agenda of the United Nations for the Development of Africa in the Nineties (New York)
1. Allow me to address you on behalf of the European Union. [The countries of Central and Eastern European associated with the European Union (…), the other associated countries (…) and the EFTA countries which are members of the European Economic Area (…) endorse this statement].
Mr. President,
2. The ministerial meeting for the follow-up to the Cairo Summit, organized only a few weeks ago in Brussels, has confirmed once again the will of the Heads of State of the European Union and Africa to work towards a new strategic dimension for the global partnership between Africa and Europe. Africa represents, indeed, a priority for the Union, which is its prime source of funds and prime trading partner. This ministerial meeting for the mid-term follow-up has allowed us, among other things,
to welcome the degree of convergence which has been accomplished in the subjects identified as of priority in the follow-up to the Cairo Summit, viz. conflict resolution, human rights, democracy and good governance, food security, AIDS, regional integration, the environment, debt and the return of cultural goods. These results will also be valuable for our deliberations under this agenda item.
Mr. President,
3. The Report of the Secretary-General invites us to put into place a mechanism for the final examination and evaluation of the New Agenda in 2002, as well as its juridical base. In this context, we welcome the establishment of a team of eminent personalities by the Secretary-General: we are convinced that their evaluation will respond to the criteria defined by the General Assembly. Regarding the review of the New Agenda 2002 by the General Assembly, the Union insists that all stakeholders
concerned should be associated, governmental as well non-governmental organizations, including the private sector.
4. In his statement at the opening of the high-level segment of the Economic and Social Council last July, the Secretary-General underlined the fact that the United Nations system had been participating in so many different development initiatives on Africa, that he was not able to remember the meaning of all the acronyms; and he added that unfortunately only a small part of these initiatives resulted being useful. The final review and appraisal of the New Agenda will provide us an opportunity
to consider the possibilities for rationalizing the number of United Nations initiatives, in order to reduce the duplication and overlap, while maintaining the overall scope of agreed priorities and targets.
5. In this effort of rationalizing the number of separate United Nations initiatives, the European Union will be guided by some basic principles that we have already introduced at other occasions. I will mention here the four most important ones:
First and foremost, the importance of African countries taking charge of their own development.
The importance of an integrated approach firstly by the United Nations system and secondly by other partners from the international community and by African countries themselves. The link established by the Secretary-General between peace, democracy, human rights and sustainable development in his report on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa: this report remains a document of reference for the European Union.
The importance of a qualified approach, taking into account both the prioritary problems encountered by all African countries, but also the different situations and needs of the individual countries of Africa.
The importance of a partnership in the most inclusive sense of the term. This spirit of partnership already underlies the new Cotonou Agreement, the Euro-Mediterranean partnership and the action programme of the Africa-Europe summit in Cairo and its follow-up mechanism, as well as forming the backbone of the action programme for the LDCs recently adopted in Brussels.
Mr. President,
6. It is a good sign that this discussion can take place in the context of a new plan for the reconstruction of Africa, originating from Africa. This New African Initiative (NAI) that the African Heads of State have adopted at their recent Summit in Lusaka demonstrates clearly that the African countries are ready to take responsibility for their own development. We also welcome in this regard the Abuja Summit of October 23, which has enabled them to consolidate this "New partnership for
Africa's Development" (NEPAD) and take a number of operational decisions. Not only does it represent an effort by Africa to solve the problems of Africa, but it is also an initiative with clear objectives, and one that recognizes democracy, transparency, good governance, rule of law, and human rights as the fundamental elements of development. The EU therefore has favorably welcomed the proposal to organize a debate on the « New Partnership » before the ministerial debate of the 57th session of
the GA. It is now up to all development partners to assist them in this effort. During their meeting on the 10th of October, the European Union and the Heads of State of South Africa, Nigeria, Senegal, Algeria and Egypt have expressed their will to set up links between the institutional frameworks of the New African Initiative and the EU, and to develop a regular dialogue on the New African Initiative.
7. For all these reasons I can assure you, Mr. President, the European Union will be a committed and constructive partner that will first and foremost listen carefully to the arguments of delegations most concerned, that is the African ones. The economic reconstruction and the development of Africa are and will remain a major issue for the European Union.
I thank you for your attention.
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