EU Presidency declaration on Africa and the African Union

1. The European Union congratulates the African Union with the considerable progress made in achieving its objectives and in implementing its programmes and activities and reconfirms the European commitment to strengthen its relationship with the African Union in the broadest sense possible. Twenty-five European nations are now looking forward to further develop their relations with Africa.

2. The last year in particular saw considerable progress by the African Union towards establishing a continental architecture for peace and security. The launching of an African Peace and Security Council (PSC) and adoption of its rules of procedure as well as the progress made in setting up African Stand-by Forces and an Early Warning System, will make a significant contribution to strengthening Africa's capacity for the prevention and resolution of conflicts. The European Union will further enhance co-operation with Africa in the field of peace and security in the coming period.

3. The EU Peace Facility for Africa which was set up at the request of the African Union will strengthen the capacity of the AU to engage in peace support and peacekeeping operations.

Financing arrangements for the facility were approved this spring and the AU observer force in Darfur will be the first to be supported by the Facility.

4. Steps taken by regional organisations in establishing structures supporting the African Peace and Security architecture are equally encouraging. Strengthening the institutional and operational development of African organisations and institutions will continue to be an important focus of EU-Africa co-operation during the Dutch EU-presidency.

5. The European Union has noted the positive efforts being made by African countries aimed at consolidating democratic principles, good governance, as well as respect for the rule of law and human rights. The inauguration of the Pan African Parliament in March this year further contributes to strengthening the safeguarding and observance of human rights. The EU will continue its assistance to strengthen institutions involved in this field.

6. NEPAD is an unprecedented African-led initiative that has put better governance and mutual respect and accountability in the forefront of the relations between Europe and Africa. We applaud this new spirit of initiative and ownership now evident on the continent of Africa.

7. The European Union welcomes the operationalisation of the African Peer Review Mechanism as an important tool for improving governance practices in Africa and the European Union encourages those countries which have not yet joined the review process to do so. The scope and applicability of the APRM will become evident shortly as the review process is being initiated in Ghana.

8. The European Union reaffirms the importance of the EU - Africa dialogue and of the strategic partnership with Africa to which the European Union committed itself in Cairo in 2000. Through the enhanced political dialogue with Africa and with the African Union, the European Union aims to work towards the holding of the second EU-Africa Summit in Lisbon as soon as circumstances permit.

9. The European Union will remain a steadfast partner with Africa in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

The HIV/AIDS pandemic continues to have a destructive impact on all sectors of society, including security and is undermining developmental capacity in Africa. The impact of HIV/AIDS on development in Africa should be an important element in the political dialogue with African partners, including the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in conflict areas and peace keeping activities.

10. Europe and Africa are both firmly committed to the implementation of the Millennium Summit Declaration and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. Further upscaling of financing for poverty strategies is needed to bring MDGs closer within reach while coherence in foreign policies will need to be improved. The contribution of the business community towards reaching the MDG's should receive full attention of African and European partners. The importance of a positive business environment and a good investment climate can hardly be underestimated.

Innovation must play its role, as it becomes clear that traditional structures fail to provide the growth necessary to achieve the goals.

11. The European Union is committed to continue supporting the process of regional integration and to enhance African trade capacity. The launch of EPA negotiations with Western Africa, Central Africa and Eastern and Southern Africa is an important landmark in the cooperation between the EU and Africa in this field. The EU welcomes the decision to put in place a joint monitoring mechanism for the European Commission and the African Union Commission to work together to ensure coherence and mutual reinforcement between the Regional Economic Communities engaged in the EPA negotiations and the establishment of the African Economic Community. The successful completion of the Doha Round of trade negotiations which will adequately take account of the needs of developing countries is a priority for the coming period.

12. In their joint declaration on effective multilateralism the EU and Africa have underlined their strong support for the multilateral system in meeting global threats and challenges. They agreed that an effective multilateral system, including a rule-based international order and strong international institutions, is essential to addressing the interrelated problems of conflict, poverty, underdevelopment and the absence of human security.

13. The resolution of Africa's external debt problem is critical for the sustainable development of African countries. The EU welcomes the joint report prepared by debt experts from the African and EU sides on the scale, nature and impact of Africa's debt burden. The report represents a shared understanding and analysis of external debt in African countries. Progress towards long term debt sustainability should be our major goal.

The Candidate Countries Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey and Croatia, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, and the EFTA countries Iceland and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, align themselves with this declaration.

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