EU development ministers give broad support to EU-Africa energy partnership

During a meeting at the Petersberg hotel near Bonn on 12 and 13 March, EU Development Ministers discussed cooperation between the EU and the 78 ACP (Africa, Caribbean, Pacific) countries.

Ministers broadly backed an emerging energy partnership between the EU and Africa. German Development Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul highlighted the importance of the relation between development and sustainable access to energy.

"Rising costs for fossil energy are jeopardising development achievements in Africa. We in the European Union therefore want to support African expanding the use of renewable energy and improving energy efficiency", declared Ms Wieczorek-Zeul. A proposal for a Europe-Africa energy partnership will be presented by the European Commission later this year. Adaptation in Africa to climate change is expected to play a central role in this context.

Ministers and representatives of the European Commission also adopted the "Petersberg Communiqué on European Development Policy". Based on the EU's objective to eradicate poverty in the context of sustainable development and in line with the UN's Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the communiqué reiterates the objectives, values and principles of European development cooperation.

More information:

Presidency press release

Petersberg Communiqué on European Development Policy (pdf)

20 December 2005 Joint statement: "The European Consensus on Development" (pdf)

ACP-EC dialogue focuses on the opportunities of Economic Partnership

After the Petersberg conference, EU Development Ministers held an informal meeting on Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with 30 representatives from the ACP (Africa, Caribbean, Pacific) countries on 13 March.

Gathering for the first time in the context of an EU ministerial meeting, EU Ministers and the ACP countries' representatives discussed the pro-development dimension of EPAs.

According to German development Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul, there is "vast agreement within the EU that the main purpose of Economic Partnership Agreements with the ACP countries is to achieve progress on development".

More information:

Commission website: Economic Partnership Agreements (pdf)

Commission website: trade relations with ACP countries

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