2-4 April 2014. Brussels. At the EU-Africa Summit,
African and European leaders agreed that “it is time for a fundamental shift from aid to trade and investment as agents of growth, jobs and poverty reduction”. They declared their strong intention to reinforce efforts to reframe the two continents’ relationship as a “partnership of equals”
Joint Africa EU Strategy and road map
The summit also confirmed the commitment of both continents to the objectives set out in the 2007 Joint Africa-EU Strategy.
However, leaders agreed that the implementation of the Joint Strategy should be further improved and that co-operation should be guided by a results-oriented approach. The summit therefore adopted a roadmap to frame EU-Africa relations for 2014-2017. The roadmap covers five key priorities and areas for joint action:
More information:
Extract: on Science, technology and innovation (page 6)
Related:
1 April 2014. Brussels. Delegates at the 4th European Union (EU)-Africa Summit adopted a Declaration
a ministerial climate seminar on first of April, which took place in advance of the Summit.
that outlines commitments on peace and security, prosperity and people, including action on climate change. Leaders also agreed on a EU-Africa Ministerial Statement on Climate Change at
For more information on this event, please click on any of the items below:
EU-Africa Ministerial Statement on Climate Change
The 4th EU-Africa Summit took place in Brussels, Belgium, on 2-3 April 2014. It brought together African and EU leaders, as well as the leaders of EU and African Union (AU) institutions. Opening the Summit, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon described climate change as “the defining issue of our time.” He emphasized the importance of raising ambition in 2014 to reach a meaningful climate agreement in 2015 and called on leaders to bring “bold announcements and actions” to his 2014 Climate Summit.
In the Declaration, leaders state their determination to adopt a “fair, equitable and legally binding agreement” under the UNFCC with a more efficient and universal scope to produce results on mitigation, adaptation, finance, technology development and transfer, capacity building and transparency.
The Declaration describes several areas in which the EU will support Africa on climate change, including on: domestic preparations for nationally determined contributions towards the 2015 agreement; and preparing regional and national climate-resilient and low-emission development strategies, particularly in the agriculture and energy sectors and within the context of the Sustainable Energy for All Initiative (SE4ALL). The EU committed to provide more than €28 billion to Africa through bilateral cooperation at the meeting.
The Statement confirms action on climate change as “a central area of the Africa-EU Partnership.” It also: calls for raising global pre-2020 ambition; highlights the importance of climate finance.
Related:
3 April 2014: UN Secretary-General Urges Action on Climate Change at Brussels Meetings
In a series of meetings in Brussels, Belgium, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stressed the importance of EU-UN cooperation on climate change. In particular, Ban participated in the Greening Europe - Policy Spotlight 'On the Road to Paris 2015: Towards a New Global Climate Deal,' organized by Friends of Europe.
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African and European leaders
at the final press conference in Brussels.
Photo: © EU Council.
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Joint Africa EU Strategy and road map
The summit also confirmed the commitment of both continents to the objectives set out in the 2007 Joint Africa-EU Strategy.
However, leaders agreed that the implementation of the Joint Strategy should be further improved and that co-operation should be guided by a results-oriented approach. The summit therefore adopted a roadmap to frame EU-Africa relations for 2014-2017. The roadmap covers five key priorities and areas for joint action:
- Peace and security
- Democracy, good governance and human rights
- Human development
- Sustainable and inclusive development and growth and continental integration
- Global and emerging issues
More information:
Extract: on Science, technology and innovation (page 6)
- 30. Investments in science, technology and innovation (STI) are vital to promote growth and employment, improve competitiveness and identify and address pressing global societal challenges such as climate change, affordable renewable energy and energy efficiency, infectious diseases or food and nutrition security. EU-Africa cooperation on STI is cross-cutting in nature, contributing to the attainment of all other socioeconomic development objectives. We will work towards reinforcing cooperation between research communities and the creation of joint academic research programmes, with a special focus on innovation and the productive sector including research infrastructures.
- 31. In addition, we will develop a long-term, jointly funded and managed research and innovation partnership, in particular in the areas of food and nutrition security and sustainable agriculture. We will take an integrated approach recognising the important cross-cutting nature of innovation/entrepreneurship, research infrastructures and technical skills development in Africa and Europe.
- 32. To this end, the EU-Africa High Level Policy Dialogue (HLPD) on science,technology and innovation will be the key platform in the JAES for priority-setting and implementation design. A HLPD expert working group will be set up that will be tasked with developing a detailed road map defining the scope and outlining the different steps to be taken towards this new partnership. Financing will come from the European Research and Innovation Programme, Horizon 2020, and other contributions from EU and African stakeholders.
Extract on Agriculture, food security and food safety (page 11)
- Our cooperation in this field will particularly take place within i) the contact group established between the two Commissions and ii) the CAADP partnership.
- We will develop value-adding activities and agribusiness by increasing income opportunities for small holders, especially women, by creating jobs along the agricultural value chains in an inclusive and sustainable manner. We will promote responsible agricultural investment that is crucial for poverty reduction and food security. We therefore encourage the ongoing process preparing principles for responsible agricultural investment in the framework of the Committee on World Food Security.
- We will support the establishment of new, and expansion of existing, value adding chains for marketing of produce. We will pursue an enhanced cooperation among EU and Africa private sectors and farmers' organisations exploring innovative and inclusive partnerships.
- We will enhance our research on food and nutrition security and sustainable agriculture. We will particularly support the implementation of the medium term operational plans of African regional research and extension organisations and harness the expertise of global agricultural research initiatives to contribute to African research priorities in line with CAADP, the Science Agenda for African Agriculture and the African Agriculture Technology Platform.
Related:
1 April 2014. Brussels. Delegates at the 4th European Union (EU)-Africa Summit adopted a Declaration
 |
The seminar was hosted by EU Climate Action
Commissioner Connie Hedegaard, the President of the
African Ministerial Conference on Environment (AMCEN),
Binilith Mahenge, and the African Union
Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture,
Rhoda Tumusiime.
|
that outlines commitments on peace and security, prosperity and people, including action on climate change. Leaders also agreed on a EU-Africa Ministerial Statement on Climate Change at
For more information on this event, please click on any of the items below:
EU-Africa Ministerial Statement on Climate Change
The 4th EU-Africa Summit took place in Brussels, Belgium, on 2-3 April 2014. It brought together African and EU leaders, as well as the leaders of EU and African Union (AU) institutions. Opening the Summit, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon described climate change as “the defining issue of our time.” He emphasized the importance of raising ambition in 2014 to reach a meaningful climate agreement in 2015 and called on leaders to bring “bold announcements and actions” to his 2014 Climate Summit.
In the Declaration, leaders state their determination to adopt a “fair, equitable and legally binding agreement” under the UNFCC with a more efficient and universal scope to produce results on mitigation, adaptation, finance, technology development and transfer, capacity building and transparency.
The Declaration describes several areas in which the EU will support Africa on climate change, including on: domestic preparations for nationally determined contributions towards the 2015 agreement; and preparing regional and national climate-resilient and low-emission development strategies, particularly in the agriculture and energy sectors and within the context of the Sustainable Energy for All Initiative (SE4ALL). The EU committed to provide more than €28 billion to Africa through bilateral cooperation at the meeting.
The Statement confirms action on climate change as “a central area of the Africa-EU Partnership.” It also: calls for raising global pre-2020 ambition; highlights the importance of climate finance.
Related:
3 April 2014: UN Secretary-General Urges Action on Climate Change at Brussels Meetings
In a series of meetings in Brussels, Belgium, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stressed the importance of EU-UN cooperation on climate change. In particular, Ban participated in the Greening Europe - Policy Spotlight 'On the Road to Paris 2015: Towards a New Global Climate Deal,' organized by Friends of Europe.
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