EU-Africa Ministerial Troika meeting in Brazzaville concludes

The EU-Africa ministerial meeting in the framework of the EU-Africa dialogue was held in Brazzaville on 10 October. The meeting of ministers was co-chaired by H.E. Erkki Tuomioja, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland and current President of the Council of the European Union, and H.E. Rodolphe Adada, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Congo and current chairperson of the African Union (AU) Executive Council.

The EU Troika was also composed of Mrs Dorothee Janetzke-Wenzel, Director for African Affairs, Federal Foreign Office of Germany, Mr Stefano Manservisi Director General of the European Commission for Development and Relations with ACP Countries, and Mr Koen Vervaeke, Head of the Africa Unit, General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union. In addition, the Minister of State and Foreign Affairs of Portugal, H.E. Luís Amado, was invited to participate. The African troika was also composed of H.E. Dr. Lam Akol, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Sudan, Ambassador G.O. Ajonye of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and H.E. Dr. Maxwell M. Mkwezalamba, Commissioner for Economic Affairs of the African Union Commission.

Discussions focused on the preparation of the joint EU-Africa strategy and in this context the ministers agreed to expedite work towards the holding of the second Europe-Africa Summit in Lisbon in 2007. The ministers also took note of the Governance Initiative proposed by the European Commission and looked forward to the integration of governance issues in the Joint AU-EU Strategy

The ministers had an extensive discussion of conflict situations, in particular in the Sudan and Somalia. On the Sudan, the ministers expressed deep concern about the security and humanitarian situation in Darfur and demanded that all parties cease all acts of violence and atrocities on the ground. The ministers welcomed the AU's desicion to extend the mandate of the African Union Mission in the Sudan (AMIS) until 31 December 2006 and the initial steps taken towards the implementation of the DPA, and appealed to the international community to support AMIS to enable it to effectively discharge its mandate. On Somalia, the ministers reiterated the need for continued and sustained efforts to stabilise the security situation and consolidate the peace and reconciliation process in that country.

The ministers agreed to hold the EU-Africa conference on Migration and Development in Tripoli, Libya, on 22-23 November 2006 and underlined the necessity of thorough preparation of this event.

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Progress Report by the Troika Ambassadors on the Joint Implementation Matrix

1. The Final Communiqué of the 6th EU-Africa Ministerial Troika Meeting held in Vienna on the 8 May 2006 requested Troika Ambassadors to update and follow-up the Joint Implementation Matrix on regular basis (at least every three months), based on a joint proposal by both Commissions and the Council Secretariat.

It furthermore requested Troika Ambassadors to table progress reports at the bi-annual EU-Africa Ministerial Troika Meetings.

2. In fulfillment of this mandate, experts from both Commissions and the Council Secretariat met 0n 15 - 16 June 2006 in Addis Ababa, agreed on an updated version of the Joint Implementation Matrix and submitted it to Troika Ambassadors for endorsement.

On 10 August 2006 the Troika Ambassadors met in Addis Ababa, reviewed the updated version of the Joint Implementation Matrix and endorsed it.

At this occasion, the Troika Ambassadors emphasized the need to put more effort in the implementation of the commitments outlined in the Joint Implementation Matrix in order to give more value to the EU-Africa dialogue.

3. On 21-22 September 2006 experts from both Commissions and Council Secretariat met in Addis Ababa and agreed on new updates to the Joint Implementation Matrix.

These updates were reviewed and endorsed by the Troika Ambassadors on 22 September 2006. It was suggested that it should look at the actual implementation commitments in the framework of a special session. Such a meeting could also examine how the matrix could be made user friendly inter-alia by putting it into a database.

4. Troika Ambassadors also reviewed the modalities of future updates to the Joint Implementation Matrix. They agreed that the Joint Implementation Matrix should continue to be a living document and that it should focus on commitments and programmes under implementation.

They also agreed to recommend to the 10 October 2006 Ministerial Troika Meeting in Brazzaville to request future updates to the Joint Implementation Matrix in six month intervals.

Addis Ababa 22 September, 2006

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