This defines the EU's approach for addressing key issues throughout the region. A senior EU coordinator looks after the implementation of the EU Gulf of Guinea strategy and the action plan. In 2014, the fourth African Union - EU summit brought together more than 60 EU and African leaders to discuss the future of EU-Africa relations and reinforce links between the two continents. To underpin these actions, the EU and its member states have committed to a Team Europe global response package of almost €36 billion. The General Secretariat of the Council is a body of staff responsible for assisting the European Council and the Council of the EU. In addition to providing financial aid and engaging in dialogues with partner countries, the EU also conducts research and evaluation to ensure that aid is used effectively. The EU and its Member States are the leading provider of Official Development Assistance (ODA) to Africa. You can get in contact to arrange a visit, ask questions about the work of both institutions, and request a document, among other services. 29/03/2021 – HR/VP Blog – Last week the pace of international developments accelerated. The EU remains Africa’s biggest donor. The starkest example of the dark heart of the European Union is its brutal neo-colonial relationship with the Third World, particularly Africa. The Consensus aligns with the EU’s 2012 Agenda for Change, which is aimed at improving the effectiveness of funding assistance by concentrating the EU’s country programs on a maximum of three sectors per country and by prioritizing the use of general budget support as an assistance modality tied to stricter conditions to encourage principles of good administrative and fiscal governance. In March 2020, the European Commission and the EEAS put forth the Joint Communication “Towards a Comprehensive Strategy with Africa”. Certain cookies are used to obtain aggregated statistics about website visits to help us constantly improve the site and better serve your needs. This strategy was agreed by the African Union and EU institutions, as well as by African and EU countries. EU leaders are ready to engage on important avenues of cooperation including the modernisation of the Customs Union, the relaunching of high-level dialogues and people-to-people contacts, plus strengthened cooperation on migration management. 30/03/2021 – HR/VP Blog – Last week, the European Council opened what could be a new chapter in EU-Turkey relations. We will use this data to improve your experience on our website. A year later, in March 2015, the Council adopted the Gulf of Guinea action plan 2015-2020. This roadmap sets out five key priorities and areas for joint action. In the same sense, the EU could help African regional integration by pushing for a reduction of the number of African « regional communities » (at least 14), most of which do not work ; and encourage the two big Euro-African « families » – English-speaking and French-speaking – to play fairly the trans-African … Article 205 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). The United States has an unwavering and longstanding commitment to Africa. Read more about the role of the European Council, Cotonou Agreement (background information), EU-Africa roadmap 2014-2017, 2-3 April 2014, Joint communication to the European Parliament and the Council for a renewed impetus of the Africa-EU Partnership, Towards a comprehensive strategy with Africa (Factsheet European Commission), On the path to a deeper and stronger partnership, living up to the European and African aspirations: Council adopts conclusions on Africa (Council conclusions, 30 June 2020), Examples of EU humanitarian support to Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic (EEAS), Strategic framework for the Horn of Africa, November 2011, SHARE - Horn of Africa (European Commission), EU counter-terrorism action plan for the Horn of Africa and Yemen, Council conclusions on the EU Horn of Africa regional action plan 2015-2020, Annual report Horn of Africa regional action plan 2015/2016, EU Gulf of Guinea action plan, 16 March 2015, EU strategy for security and development in the Sahel, EU Sahel strategy regional action plan 2015-2020, 5th African Union - EU Summit, 29-30/11/2017, AU-EU summit in Brussels - 2-3 April 2014, African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Working Party, Internal agreement on the 11th European Development Fund (EDF), Finding solutions to migratory pressures (background information), EUR 50 million for new Joint Force of the Sahel countries: EU steps up its support for security in the region (European Commission), EU trade with West Africa (European Commission), EU trade with the Southern African Development Community (European Commission), EU trade with the East African Community (European Commission), EU trade with Central Africa (European Commission), EU trade with Eastern and Southern Africa (European Commission), EU development and cooperation (Europeaid) in Africa (European Commission), Foreign affairs & international relations, A Partnership for the Green Transition and Energy Access, A Partnership for Sustainable Growth and Jobs, A Partnership for Peace, Security and Governance. In February 2017, EU leaders adopted the Malta declaration setting out their intention to increase cooperation with Libya, which is the main country of departure towards Europe. On 30 June, the Council approved conclusions on Africa, restating the paramount importance of a stronger EU-Africa partnership. Pledging funding is easy, visible, and it pleases politicians on both sides. The press office holds press events, offers audiovisual coverage of major events and provides facilities for journalists. In 2018, the EU and its 27 Member States provided €19.6 billion – 46% of the total which Africa received. This outlines the EU's support to address the challenges of maritime security and organised crime in the region. The joint Africa-EU strategy was adopted in 2007 as the formal channel for EU relations with African countries. The EU strategy for security and development in the Sahel was presented in 2011 by the High Representative and the Commission, upon the Council's request. The European Union continues to monitor the humanitarian situation in Burundi. European humanitarian values in action The European Union provides assistance to countries and populations, both within Europe and abroad, when major disasters or humanitarian emergencies occur. Many of the European countries are reviving their ties with different African countries. The press office is the first point of contact for all media requests. The Cotonou agreement is the overarching framework for EU relations with African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries. This financial structure might change as a result of the negotiations on the new EU multiannual financial framework 2021-2028 (see separate fact sheet 1.4.3on this issue), which started i… EU-Africa relations are based on the 2000 Cotonou Agreement with African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries, which grew out of the 1975 Lomé Convention. This conflict threatens also to destabilise the whole Horn of Africa. But the jury is still out on the effectiveness of this investment. Europe and Africa have close historical, cultural and geographical ties. The action plan takes into account challenges that have become more critical over the years, notably: The implementation of the action plan is led by the High Representative and the Commission. Find out more about documents and publications. The Council of the EU is the institution representing the member states' governments. A cement factory in Figuil, Cameroon. The Council is regularly updated on its implementation, including through annual reports. In the Council, the following bodies are responsible for Africa-EU relations: The EU and Africa are taking concrete action to promote better access to education, boost investment and create jobs. The most obvious and damaging exhibit is, of course, the Common Agricultural Policy which takes up half the EU budget and lavishes subsidies onto the EU’s biggest landowners at the expense of millions of the poorest farmers in Africa. All the EU’s relationships with the world’s key strategic actors have been in play, i.e. At least 13 Member States (out of 27) must vote in favour for a project to be approved. Gulf of Guinea 3. 31/03/2021 – HR/VP Blog – The Syria conflict has wreaked havoc for ten years and it is still going on. with the US, China, Russia and Turkey. The 2021 EU-African Union Summit is the key moment when African and European leaders will meet to determine joint priorities for their common future. Europe and Africa are both experiencing deep transformations that affect their integration paths and interregional relationship. How much development and humanitarian aid does the EU provide in Africa? The next EU-AU Summit was identified as a pivotal moment for renewing a comprehensive joint strategic approach that delivers on these aspirations. Consequently, any data related to the United Kingdom posterior to this date will no longer be shown in the EU Aid Explorer, as part of “EU Member States”. The European Council is the EU institution that defines the general political direction and priorities of the European Union. Africa’s continental integration has become a key priority for both the African Union and the EU. The EU was given its current structure and powers in 2007 with the Lisbon Treaty, also known as the Reform Treaty. Refugees receive life-saving in-kind and cash-based food assistance. It covers the EU's relations with 79 countries, including 48 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. The Council of the EU meets in different configurations depending on the topic discussed. It proposes to work together on five key global trends: These proposals build on a growing momentum in EU-Africa relations. Ultimately the AfCFTA is designed to create a comprehensive African market; what is does at this stage is set in motion a set of complex and fore­seeably very lengthy negotiations. The EU Delegation has announced the implementation of Agro-Tech Development initiatives in Sierra Leone and is now accepting concept note submissions for these initiatives. Under these treaties, the bloc’s twenty-eight members agree to pool their sovereignty and delegate many decision-making powers to the EU The EU budget supports a wide range of policies implemented within the European Union and has helped the EU to consolidate its strong role in the international arena, as a leader in the fight against climate change and as the largest donor of humanitarian and development aid in the world. Under the 2016 EU-Turkey migration deal, Ankara agreed to prevent migrants from crossing to Greece and receive repatriated migrants, in exchange for several billion euros in financial aid to assist with managing and processing over 3.5 million refugees. In 2011, the EU adopted a strategic framework for the Horn of Africa. The EU cooperates with 150 partner countries in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific, as well as civil society and international organisations. The EU has launched several military and civilian missions and operations in Africa, as part of the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). EU to provide further aid to Africa in return for help in stopping migrants cross Mediterranean Brussels is to link development aid to African … The conclusions noted that the Joint Communication constitutes an excellent basis on which to initiate a new ambitious partnership with Africa. We have an interest in Africa’s success and sustainable development; we want to be partners in creating The Agreement Establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) came into force in May 2019. Press officers speak 'off the record' about the Council's activities. Despite increasing competition, the EU also remains Africa’s biggest investor in both stock and … In June 2016, the European Council agreed to deepen cooperation with key countries of origin and transit. The COVID-19 pandemic showed us how interdepend our two continents are. The strategic framework has led among other things to: In 2015, the Council adopted the Horn of Africa regional action plan 2015-2020. Since the refugee crisis, Europe has been courting African governments and banking on increased cooperation. However, even if Russia and China seem to join forces to face the “Western world”, the future geopolitical landscape of a multipolar world is not simple. Development cooperation is channelled through different financial instruments. Their implementation is closely coordinated with the Council's Political and Security Committee. Horn of Africa 2. A senior EU diplomat closely involved in preparing the two-day summit in Abidjan, bringing together leaders from the African Union and the European Union, said previous initiatives to aid Africa were born out of a wish to help. The headquarters of the Council of the EU and the European Council are located in Brussels (Belgium). The EU plans to invest more in Africa and wants to intensify trade relations. Its members have a combined area of 4,233,255.3 km 2 (1,634,469.0 sq mi) and an estimated total population of about 447 million. Since Africa on the other hand is still very poor and faces many societal problems, Europe can through its actions in development cooperation and its policies, help Africa meet these challenges. Many events seem to indicate the often-announced confrontation between democracies and authoritarian regimes. You can also take a look at Council publications, access the archives and search for legislation that the Council negotiates together with the European Parliament. The EU's foreign relations are dealt with either through the Common Foreign and Security Policy decided by the European Council, or the economic trade negotiations handled by the European Commission.The leading EU diplomat in both areas is the High Representative Josep Borrell. Follow the latest developments on policy-making and on legislation under negotiation. To find out more, visit the page on the Cotonou agreement: The EU finances development programmes and initiatives benefiting multiple countries across Africa. Other cookies are used to boost performance and guarantee security of the website. We achieved this with the Fifth “Brussels Conference on the future of Syria and the region” this week – generating € 5,3 billion of new pledges. African countries and the EU cooperate through multiple frameworks such as: 1. the Cotonou agreement 2. the joint Africa-EU strategy In addition to these frameworks, the Council has adopted three regional strategies for the: 1. The European Union Commission fully supports the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) and is proposing a 40 billion Euro package to attract investments that would create at …