Beyond Structures? Reflections on the Implementation of the Joint Africa-EU Strategy

Highlights

• As a policy framework the Joint Africa-EU Strategy (JAES) and Action Plans offers significant opportunities for all stakeholders.
• The joint strategy requires dialogue to overcome wider mistrust and sufficient resources from both sides to make it work.
• Coherence with other policy frameworks is one of the key commitments of the JAES.

Background

The Joint Africa-EU Strategy (JAES) and its associated Action Plan, which were adopted in Lisbon in December 2007, are designed to change the nature of relations between Africa and Europe.  The strategy was formulated in response to geopolitical changes, globalisation and the processes of integration in Africa and Europe. At the core of the JAES is a much more overtly political relationship.

Key purpose of ECDPM

One year after the adoption of the strategy in Lisbon, the time has now come to independently reflect on how the ambitious ideals and measures set out in the strategy and action plan have been put into practice. To this end, this paper contains a description of the JAES, the background to its development, a description of the activities undertaken during the past year, an analysis of the development of its key elements, and a commentary on key challenges for 2009.

Key findings of ECPM

As a policy framework the Joint Africa-EU Strategy (JAES) and Action Plans offers significant opportunities for all stakeholders. Yet these will not be fulfilled if at least some progress is not made on the following areas in 2009  

The JAES needs deeds and dialogue to overcome wider mistrust and sufficient resources from both sides to make it work

Coherence with other policy frameworks (such as climate change and migration) is one of the key commitments of the JAES. and all pan-African aspects and dimensions of the JAES must be fully addressed.