EN

(...PICT...)|COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES|

Brussels, 17.10.2008

SEC(2008) 2603 final

COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT accompanying the

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL One year after Lisbon: The Africa-EU partnership at WORK Commission contributions to the implementation of the EU-Africa Action Plan (2008-2010)

{COM(2008) 617}

I. Aim and purpose of this working document

(1) The Commission Communication COM (2008) 617 "One year after Lisbon – the Africa-EU partnership at work" aims to assess the first year of the Joint Strategy and its first Action Plan (2008-2010), to outline the main challenges ahead, and to provide inputs for the next joint progress report. The Communication reviews the initial progress made on the overall political objectives of the Joint Strategy and on the implementation of the 8 thematic partnerships.

(2) The present staff working document complements the above Communication by providing a first indicative overview of concrete short- and mid-term deliverables proposed by the Commission for this strategic partnership. Based on the results of the College-to-College meeting of 01 October 2008 between the European Commission and the African Union Commission (AUC), preliminary discussions in the EU Implementation Teams, and a series of internal inter-service consultations, this working document identifies ongoing or planned activities through which the EU, and in particular the European Commission, could contribute the eight thematic partnerships of the Action Plan. However, the successful implementation of this strategic partnership relies both on the shared responsibility between African and the EU side. Within the EU, success depends on effective burden sharing, division of labour and coherence between Member States and the Commission. In order to meet the ambition of the Joint Strategy, the Commission's inputs have therefore to be matched by activities of Member States. While the present working document concentrates on the European Commission contributions to necessarily broader European, and Euro-African, implementation efforts, the forthcoming joint progress reports of November 2008 will provide a more comprehensive overview.

(3) Within the Commission, too, this first Staff working document will be further developed in order to reflect in greater detail the substantive roadmaps, implementation timelines, actors and financial instruments available for the European Commission contribution to the identified cooperation activities. The Directorate General for Development and Relations with ACP States (DG DEV), in cooperation with DG RELEX as far as the North African dimension is concerned, has the overall responsibility for policy steering, guidance and coordination of the implementation process. DG DEV and RELEX will also contribute to the implementation of the eight thematic partnerships through the programming of their respective geographic and/or thematic financial instruments, such as the European Development Fund (EDF) , the Development Cooperation Instrument (DCI), the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR), the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI), the Instrument for Stability (IfS). DG AIDCO will remain systematically involved, notably at the operational implementation level of each thematic partnership. But in addition to this group, other line-DGs, too, in particular those in charge of internal policies with an external dimension relevant for Africa, will have to continue and step up their participation in this collective effort, including with dedicated human resources and financial instruments under their management. These DGs include, inter alia, AGRI, EAC, EMPL, ENV, INFSO, JLS, REGIO, RTD, SANCO, TAXUD, TRADE, TREN, as well as the JRC (Joint Research Centre) and the internal Commission DGs and services under the coordination of DG ADMIN. In this context, a distinct section of the present working document lists the additional initiatives undertaken in the field of administrative and technical cooperation to strengthen the capacities of the African Union Commission (AUC) in areas such as strategic planning, administrative and financial management, human resources development, and multilingualism, and to develop exchanges and information on topics of mutual interest. In these areas, too, various Commission DGs, including DGs ADMIN, BUDG, DGT, EUROSTAT, IAS, DG COMM, SCIC, the Legal Service and the Secretariat General, will contribute to further cooperation activities. Finally, and in order to address the financing of the working arrangements and institutional architecture agreed in Lisbon, the European Commission suggests to set aside resources from the 55MEuro AU capacity building programme – managed by the AUC - to further support the participation of the African side.

II. Short- and mid term Commission deliverables for the eight thematic partnerships

(4) Within the framework of the Peace and Security partnership , the Commission will contribute in the following way to achieving results in each of the three priority actions Under this partnership, actions are essentially managed by DG DEV and DG RELEX, in cooperation with the General Secretariat of the Council. :[1]

Under this partnership, actions are essentially managed by DG DEV and DG RELEX, in cooperation with the General Secretariat of the Council.

(a) In the framework of an enhanced dialogue on challenges to peace and security , the Commission will participate in political dialogue meetings such as AU PSC-EU PSC meeting (30.09.2008), EU-AU Defence Ministers Troika (20.11.2008) and Foreign Ministers Troika (21.11.2008). The services (DG DEV and RELEX) will also participate in joint assessment missions, in particular in view of monitoring APF-funded Peace Support Operations (PSOs). The Sahel region has been identified for a first informal joint assessment in the field of collective security and preventive diplomacy with a view to anticipating security challenges there. The cooperation with the Centre Africain d'Etudes et de Recherche sur le Terrorisme (CAERT) in the field of counter-terrorism will be reinforced. The current funding (1 MEuros under MEDA, the EC's main financial instrument for the implementation of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership) will be complemented by a first action under the Instrument for Stability (IfS) to start before the end of 2008, and will be followed by a programme for 2009-2011 in support of the Sahel Region. Finally, in the area of fighting the illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons (SALW), work with African mandated organizations/regional mechanisms will continue to support the implementation of regional conventions and strategies; initial funding should start before end of 2008 Another programme with a wide regional scope in support of African countries’ capacities to fight organised crime/ terrorism is foreseen under the action programme for 2009-2011.

(b) The Commission will continue to support the full operationalization of the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) . An envelop of €65M focused mainly on this objective will be proposed under the second African Peace Facility (2008-2010). The ongoing assistance to AU political-military structures (Peace and Security Department, Peace and Security Operations Department, and Strategic Planning Management Unit (SPMU) and the recruitment of AU planners and experts will be further financed through the APF and the IfS, as well as through a possible CFSP Joint Action. In response to the European’s Commission concerns, the AU Commission confirmed that it will address as a matter of priority the issue of speeding up the recruitment of African planners under the IfS‘s programme in support of the SPMU. The ongoing co-operation to strengthen the African Continental Early Warning System (CEWS) will be further reinforced both through the support under the APF, at the continental and regional level, and through a follow-up project focusing on information and communications equipment, training, exchanges of expertise, and exchanges of officials(which has started in the Summer of 2008). Support will also be provided to the work of the Panel of the Wise on crisis-prone elections. Support for the training and exercises of the African Stand–by Force (ASF) will continue, and a programme focussed on African Training Centres will be launched under the APF. In the field of strengthening African military capabilities, the Euro-RECAMP / AMANI-Africa Initiative will be launched (20.11.2008), and a Contributors Conference, training courses, a Pol-Mil seminar (2009), and the Command-Post Exercise (2010) will also take place. In the field of Civilian crisis management, the planned mapping and needs assessments will develop and operationalise civilian training and police aspects. Possible funding will be provided through existing instruments. Last, but certainly not least, ongoing APF funding to AU-led Peace Support Operations will continue, complemented by possible additional contributions form EU Member States and the CFSP Budget.

(c) In the third priority area, predictable funding for Africa-led PSOs , the Commission will put in place the second African Peace Facility with an allocation of 300MEuro for the period 2008-2010, plus a reserve of another 300 MEuro for the period 2011-2013. The Commission will also provide its support to the AU/UN Panel on African peace-keeping, in particular through sharing experiences/lessons-learned from the support provided to African peace operations under the APF and through expert advice.

(5) In the partnership on Democratic Governance and Human Rights, the Commission DG DEV and RELEX will contribute to launching the Governance Platform by 2009, and will involve the AU in the preparation of the European Charter of cooperation on Local Governance. In the field of AU Capacity building, the use of available EC support will be maximized by reviewing actions so far and identifying shared priorities by the end of 2008, in order to ensure adequate support to the various components of the AU Democratic Governance and Human Rights architecture. In the area of H uman Rights, the European Commission will support a first joint civil society meeting back to back with the forthcoming session of the EU-AU Human Rights Dialogue in 2009, and will identify by early 2009 themes and format for joint initiative at the UN. With regard to election observations, the European Commission will promote closer consultations in the field between the EU and AU observation missions in the same African countries, in particular with regard to international standards and code of conduct. The European Commission stands ready to support and promote EU Member States in exchange programmes for election observers, which could include the invitation of AU observers to elections in the EU, starting with the next elections for the European Parliament, and launch a pilot project in support to AU election observation activities with a view to consolidating the AU’s good practices. Finally, the European Commission will step up support for the training of AU election observers, including dedicated training, seminars or internships.[2]

DG DEV and RELEX

(6) In the partnership on trade and regional integration, the Commission will continue to provide support to the implementation of the following priority actions :

(a) In the domain of supporting the African integration agenda, the Commission Notably DG DEV and TRADE will use its Communication on regional integration as a vehicle for an enhanced dialogue on regional integration between EU institutions, Member States and African continental and regional organisations. The political and technical dialogue on key issues to make Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) a tool in support of regional integration for development will continue. The Commission will cooperate with EU Member States in the framework of the EU's commitment to increasing its trade-related assistance to EUR 2 billion annually by 2010, and will in particular pursue its initiative for the joint design (by Commission and Member States) of regional "aid for trade" packages.[3]

Notably DG DEV and TRADE

(b) A series of priority actions in the field of rules and standards will be launched, too. In the area of sanitary and phytosanitary standards (SPS), the Commission Notably DG SANCO and TRADE will contribute to provide Africa-wide trainings on SPS (Better Training for Safer Food initiative), and strengthen the capacity of the AUC officers on SPS issues through intensive trainings (e.g. on harmonisation issues) and exchange programmes. Other activities will comprise the creation of a platform to share information and to enhance participation of African countries in EU standard setting process, initiatives to improve knowledge on food and feed inspection services, and first discussions on the rehabilitation and modernisation of laboratories for plant and animal testing and certification on products such as fisheries or leather. The Commission will initiate discussions on a support programme to develop the capacities of firms and agencies in the field of industrial standards and normalisation. These actions will take into account ongoing programmes at the regional levels.[4]

Notably DG SANCO and TRADE

(c) Further steps will be taken to implement the Infrastructure partnership. The Infrastructure Trust Fund has so far received 146 MEuro in grants (contributions from 11 EU Member States and from the 9 th EDF), and the European Commission i is proposing future substantial allocations, notably under the 10 th EDF's intra-ACP line. 8 major infrastructure projects have been approved by the Executive Committee, and the 2 nd meeting of the Steering Committee should take place in November 2008 in Addis Ababa. The start-up phase of the Partnership is supported through a 10 MEuro allocation , and some of the planned initial activities are already under way. The reinforcement of the AUC Department of Infrastructure is foreseen for early 2009. The AU Programme of Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) will be supported with 2 MEuro from the 55MEuro AU Capacity building programme, and the original allocation for sectoral masters plans will be consolidated to finance the PIDA. The European Commission will also promote triangular cooperation with China and Libya in the area of African infrastructure development, and will invite the AUC to participate in events on Trans-European Networks. Finally, the EU-Africa Aviation Summit in Windhoek on 01.12.2008 will lay the foundation for enhanced cooperation on civil aviation, and develop a roadmap for possible concrete cooperation activities.

(d) Supplementary activities in the area of customs, statistical harmonization and regional and cross-border cooperation will provide additional substance to the implementation of this partnership:

– In the area of customs , the Commission Notably DG TAXUD will launch studies to assess the needs and potential for harmonisation of customs procedures and rules of origin at African level, and will provide support to customs reforms through information seminars on the basis of the EC "customs blueprints". [5]

Notably DG TAXUD

– The Commission EUROSTAT will also expand the exchange of experience and best practice on regional integration in the fields of statistical harmonisation , including through the transfer of Eurostat's know-how in co-ordinating continent-wide statistical activities and the provision of harmonised high quality statistics to support policy initiatives. Eurostat will contribute to capacity building initiatives for pan-African organisations in the field of statistics, inter alia through by study visits and participation by African officials in Eurostat training courses.[6]

EUROSTAT

– In the domain of regional and cross-border cooperation , the Commission Notably DG REGIO will support Africa-wide capacity building in territorial planning, regional policy techniques, cross-border co-operation and multi level governance through visits, high level conferences and exchange programmes with the AUC and other African regional groupings, in collaboration with FOGAR (Forum of Global Associations of Regions), CRPM (Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions) and other European regional associations. The AUC and other regional groupings will be invited to the high-level conference on 'Regional Governance in a Global context' (Brussels, 11-12.05.2009).[7]

Notably DG REGIO

(7) Within the MDG Partnership , the Commission will, as a part of the EU Agenda for Action on MDGs, contribute to the priority actions in the following way :

(a) With regard to accelerating the achievement of the MDG food security targets , the Commission Notably DG AGRI will work together with the AUC on reinforcing the strategic link between the EC instruments and the African Framework for Food Security outlined in the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP) Pillar 3, in particular in the fields of agricultural research, food security information systems, improved food security risk management, and support to regional and continental farmers' organizations platforms. The European Commission will work to facilitate a coordinated EU action in this framework. The European Commission will also work to allow proper support to AU capacity with a view to prioritizing agriculture in African policies, namely through the implementation of the monitoring and evaluation framework of CAADP (targets of the Maputo declaration) and the support to CAADP national processes. Finally, the Commission will explore areas and themes for exchange of expertise between AUC and European Commission in selected fields of agricultural policies, such as quality policy and organic farming.[8]

Notably DG AGRI

(b) With regard to the MDG Health targets , the Commission Notably DG SANCO will pursue, together with the relevant key stakeholders, several lines of work as a part of broader EU efforts :[9]

Notably DG SANCO

– Human Resources for Health (HRH) : in follow up to the conclusions of the Kampala forum on HRH, continue to work for progress in the implementation of the EU Programme for Action (PfA) to tackle the critical shortage of human resources in health, scheduled for adoption by the Council in November 2008.

– Access to essential medicines : Consultations will identify concrete initiatives to facilitate technology transfer for the production of medicines in Africa, as well as triangular cooperation. Support for research in the field of new medicines adapted to African pathologies and conditions of use is also envisaged.

– Social protection in health and financing of health systems: The EC will stimulate development of a common EU position in this area and identify how the EU can support African countries in addressing the issue of fair financing of healt systems, elimination of fees for basic health care and development or extension of mechanisms for social protection in health through EU action at country, regional and global levels

– Sexual and reproductive health and rights : In cooperation with the AU and UNFPA, contribute to review progress made in the implementation of the Maputo Plan of Action.

– International Health Partnership : cooperate closely with African partners to establish agreed plans, budgets-costing scenarios and monitoring frameworks in relation to country compacts starting with Ethiopia and Mozambique.

– International Health Law : together with the AUC look into possibilities for enhanced cooperation to encourage ratification and diffuse best practices on the International Health Regulations (IHR) such as the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).

(c) In the domain of the MDG education targets , the European Commission Notably DG EAC will, together with the relevant key stakeholders, contribute to the EU-AU exchange of expertise and promotion of best practices. [10]

Notably DG EAC

(d) work to complement African countries in their efforts to attain MDG 2 through follow up to the MDG Agenda for Action which highlights issues of education financing, teacher shortages, support to sector planning, girls education and support to education in countries in situations of fragility.

(e) support a study on teacher shortage and teacher education, as well as follow-up experts workshop / conference bringing together African Policy makers with experts in the field from both Africa and Europe to work on a draft plan of action for addressing this challenge.

(f) In the context of addressing gender as cross-cutting issue, the European Commission will, together with the relevant key stakeholders, explore with the AUC possibilities to develop the capacity of the " Centre International pour l’Education des Filles et des Femmes en Afrique " (CIEFFA).

(8) In the context of the Energy partnership , several high-profile initiatives of the European Commission Notably DG TREN have been instrumental to kick-start the implementation. These include the joint energy mission of Commissioners Piebalgs and Michel to Africa (visits to Ethiopia, Nigeria and Burkina Faso), the first EC-AUC high level dialogue on energy in Addis Ababa on 8 September (including the signing of the Joint Statement on the main priorities and governance setup for the implementation of the Partnership), and the endorsement of the Joint Statement by the European and the AU Commissions at their College-to-College meeting on 01.10.2008. The European Commission will continue to play an active role in the forthcoming first Joint Experts Working Group meeting (15-16.10.2008 in Addis Ababa), in the first High-Level Africa-EU Meeting on Energy in 2009, and in the Energy Partnership Forum which will take place back-to-back with the High-Level Meeting and will include the participation of civil society and of the private sector. On the operational side, the replenishment of the Energy Facility (200 MEuro, aiming at increasing access to energy services using renewable energy sources) and contribution to the EU-Africa Infrastructure Partnership and its Trust Fund can be considered to cover, inter alia, the Energy sector. The European Commission will cooperate with the AUC on the elaboration of a n Electricity Master-Plan for Africa and on the definition of a Capacity Building Programme to support the African Power Pools and AFUR (10 MEuro, covered by the first Energy Facility). The European Commission will assist in the promotion of energy interconnections in Africa and between Africa and Europe, with recourse to funding through inter-alia the Africa-EU Infrastructure Partnership and its Trust Fund, National and Regional Indicative Programmes under the EDF, ENPI funds, as well as through the preparation of a Programme of Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) including energy. The promotion of renewable energy and energy efficiency will be funded through the Energy Facility and the thematic programme on Environment, Sustainable Management of Natural Resources including Energy (ENRTP). ENRTP also supports the establishment of the policy dialogue under the Africa-EU Energy Partnership, work to establish enabling legal, fiscal and regulatory environments to promote investment in the energy sector as well as on rural electrification in Africa, and contributes to Global Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Fund GEEREF as well as to the World Bank's Gas Flaring Reduction Partnership and the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). [11]

Notably DG TREN

(9) In the Partnership on Climate Change , the Commission Notably DG ENV will contribute to the drafting of an ambitious Joint AU-EU Declaration on Climate Change to be adopted at the next AU-EU Ministerial Troika (20-21.11.2008). This process will take place within the agreed AU-EU enhanced cooperation framework and will be linked to the negotiations for a global and comprehensive post 2012 agreement, to be discussed at the Poznan conference in December 2008 and concluded at the UN climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in 2009. On the operational side, GCCA Pilot country support actions will start soon in Tanzania, to be followed soon in several other African countries. In this context, the ongoing dialogue with Madagascar, Mali, Mauritius, Mozambique, Senegal and Seychelles will be enhanced for finalising countries' selection and identification of activities that will benefit from forthcoming support under the GCCA. Furthermore, the European Commission in close cooperation with EU Member States and other involved stakeholders will be considering possible forms of support to the Africa Climate Information for Development (ClimDev) Programme on the basis of the revised framework Programme Document and to other African relevant initiatives addressing the capacity building dimension of climate change. Other environmental priority activities include (a) a scoping study for the Green Wall for the Sahara and the Sahel Initiative, with a view to identifying the most promising avenues for implementation and appropriate institutional and funding mechanisms (first quarter 2009); (b) initiatives to strengthen the capacity of the AUC environmental section (human resources development and training, supported by 55 MEuro capacity building programme); (c) in collaboration with UN Environment Programme, the installation in early 2009 of the "MEA African Regional Hub" within the AUC; this project aims at promoting environmental sustainability in the ACP countries within the context of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and will enhance African capacities to take part in and to comply with Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs); (d) an enhanced dialogue on disaster risk reduction as an essential element of climate change adaptation, building on the 2004 Africa Regional Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction and the forthcoming EU Strategy for supporting disaster risk reduction in developing countries , and (e) continued dialogue with African countries on sustainable forest management through processes such as Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT).[12]

Notably DG ENV

(10) The Commission will also provide continued support to the implementation of the three priority action of the Partnership on Migration, Mobility and Employment.

(a) In the area of migration and mobility, the Commission DG DEV, JLS and RELEX will contribute to the creation of a network of migration observatories to collect, analyse and disseminate date on migration flows. With a view to facilitate safer, faster and cheaper remittances, the European Commission is ready cooperate with Member States to support the establishment of an African Remittances Institute under the leadership of the African Union and in cooperation with the World Bank. In order to further improve joint action on fighting illegal immigration, human smuggling and human trafficking, the Commission will, in the context of wider EU efforts, promote regional collaboration and dialogue on the management of migration flows along the Western African migration route. In this context, the Paris Conference on Migration in November 2008 is seen as a major landmark. Assistance will be provided to African governments to set up Migration Information and Management Centres, such as the Moroccan National Agency for Employment and Skills (ANAPEC ) and the recently inaugurated Centre d'Information et de Gestion des Migrations (CIGEM) in Mali. The Commission also aims to enhance cooperation with Diaspora organisations; it organised in cooperation with the UN Development Programme a conference with African Diaspora organisations in June 2008 as a first step towards a more structured dialogue at the European level with the Diaspora.[13]

DG DEV, JLS and RELEX

(b) In the field of employment , the Commission Notably DG EMPL will continue to promote the decent work agenda. The project "Investing in People" will support Labour market information systems exchange of good practice and peer review. In the framework of the continued dialogue on social protection, the Commission will participate in the AU Conference of Social Development Ministers (27-31.10.2008 in Namibia). With a view to capacity building and awareness raising, the Commission will promote the participation of the AUC in the regional seminar on Decent Work which will take place in June 2009. In the area of higher education, the Commission Notably DG EAC will continue to support the design of a management framework for the Nyerere programme. A study will be prepared and an expertise transfer workshop will be organised. The Erasmus Mundus higher education mobility programme will be further promoted to increase participation of qualified African students in the programme and strengthen links between European and African higher education institutions. The conference to be organised in December 2008 on EU-Africa co-operation on mobility in higher education will help identify strengths and weaknesses of the cooperation between European and African higher education institutions within the framework of the Erasmus Mundus programme. The TEMPUS programme will continue to support the modernisation of higher education in northern African countries. Study visits as well as possible staff exchanges and secondment from the AUC will allow to share experience and best practices on European Commission higher education mobility programmes for the Nyerere programme. Staff-to-staff discussion on the concept of Pan African Universities will also be pursued. The Youth in Action Programme will continue to support Euro-African mobility among young people and capacity-building of youth workers and structures.[14][15]

Notably DG EMPL

Notably DG EAC

(c) Finally, the European Commission will promote the exchange of expertise and best practices between EU and AU in the framework of the AU Education Observatory and EU statistics and monitoring tools.

(11) In the field of the Action Plan's eighth partnership on science, information society and space , the Commission will again play a proactive role in all three priority actions.

(a) In the domain of Science and Technology (S&T), the Commission Notably DG DEV after thorough consultation with the AUC and taking into account high level international expertise, will support the flagship project of African research grants with the establishment of a framework programme to promote sustainable S&T research for Africa's technical, economic and social development, and will assist the AUC's HRST Department to coordinate the implementation of this programme. The Commission Notably DG RDT will also support a second flagship project on Water and Food Security in Africa which aims to strengthen Africa's capacity in science and technology in order to cope with food security problems while promoting sustainable management of land and water resources. In this context, research and demonstration activities in one or more African river basins will consolidate the relevant knowledge and assure its concrete impact. [16][17]

Notably DG DEV

Notably DG RDT

(b) In the domain of information society , the Commission Notably DG INFSO will promote ICT capacity-building through support to the African Regional Action Plan for the Knowledge Economy (ARAPKE). The AXIS flagship project will support the deployment of an African regional internet infrastructure through national and sub-regional internet exchange points. The Africa-Connect flagship Project will support the development of regional research and education networks and their interconnection with the GEANT2, the advanced pan-European backbone network that interconnects all National Research and Education Networks (NRENs) across Europe. The bilateral EC-AUC dialogue on the Information Society will be reinforced through annual meetings to review cooperation activities and to promote synergies between the relevant thematic Partnerships. This dialogue will also address related policy and regulatory developments at regional and international levels, and promote the exchange of best practices related to ICT for development.[18]

Notably DG INFSO

(c) In the domain of space , the Commission Notably DG ENTR and JRC, in cooperation with ESA will pursue the implementation of the Lisbon Process on “Global Monitoring for Environment and Security GMES (Kopernikus) and Africa, and will in particular cooperate on the establishment of a joint Action Plan to be submitted to the next Africa-EU Summit in 2010. Additional efforts will also be made to strengthen AUC capacities in the field of geospatial sciences and to implement the EC-ESA-WHO telemedicine project.[19]

Notably DG ENTR and JRC, in cooperation with ESA

(12) The Commission will also continue to address cross-cutting issues of the Joint Strategy and the Action Plan, such as gender and communication.

(a) In the field of gender , the Commission will explore concrete proposals in each thematic partnership. More specifically, in the context of the African Peace Facility, opportunities will be sought to link the work of both Commissions on Resolution 1325, to support the French Presidency review on Women in Conflict situations, and to cooperate with the AUC on the implementation of the AU solemn declaration on Gender Equality in Africa. The Commission will also support effective networking between African and European civil society organisations working on gender issues.

(b) In the area of communication , the Commission will (a) contribute to further building up the joint AU-EU web site, launched on 1 October, by updating it and feeding it regularly with content, observing a fair AU-EU balance, and involving on an interactive basis all stakeholders concerned by the AU-EU Strategic Partnership; (b) follow-up on the three priority actions agreed upon during the Media and Development Forum in Ouagadougou (11-13.09.2008), in particular in the framework of the next European Development Days (Strasbourg, 15-17.11.2008). EU-Africa issues do not yet receive enough coverage by the media, and the European press in particular. The Commission's information briefings and seminars for journalists are an essential part of the EU's press policy, enabling journalists to deepen their knowledge about European affairs. EU-Africa issues could in that framework be given special consideration. Similarly, greater coverage of such issues could be produced by the EURANET network, a consortium of 23 international radio stations supported by the European Commission, representing 13 countries which broadcast worldwide daily programmes devoted to EU policies and activities .

(13) Last, but not least, the Commission DG ADMIN, BUDG, SCIC, DG COMM, DGT and internal services will intensify its bilateral activities with the AUC in the field of institutional capacity building and administrative cooperation .[20]

DG ADMIN, BUDG, SCIC, DG COMM, DGT and internal services

(a) In the area of staff exchanges and training , the Commission will include in the funding support specific training programmes on general financial management, accounting and budgeting. Tailor-made training and exchange of experience will be made available for senior AUC management in the areas of financial management, administration, auditing, and conference service, and information and training seminars on the organisation and functioning of the EU and AU institutions will be organized.

(b) In the area of contract and financing, the European Commission will support the provision of backstopping measure (recruitment of local accountants by the AUC) for the finalisation of 2008 financial reporting (i.e. pre-IMIS) and organize short term missions for senior management on multi-annual budget preparation and elaboration as well as budget structure, as well as benchmarking missions on financial rules and regulations. The European Commission will also support training on the SAP/IMIS system, and organise a joint session with AUC involving key departments (internal audit, financing, strategic planning, audit and legal council, peace and security and administration, representative from the bureau of the chairperson and the deputy chairperson) on each agreement so as to ensure that the AUC carries out the programmes as per agreement requirement.

(c) In the area of audit , too, the Commission will organize short-term mission for senior management on internal audit, audit monitoring and management tools, policy and method in the area of ethics, and anti-fraud and anti-corruption policy. The European Commission will invite AUC counterparts to participate in conferences on fraud and anti-corruption, and will share experience and provide training to internal audit department on risk management.

(d) In the field of multilingualism , a series of concrete actions have been or will be proposed by the competent European Commission services (DG SCIC and DGT) to the AUC-CSD, including exchanges of experience, know-how and best practice in areas such as IT working environment, IT applications and databases, assistance and software for the creation of a terminology database, planning and programming operations for meetings, documentalist working methods, planning / translation and document management- and workflow tools, as well as the overall improvement of the working environment. In addition, DGT and DG SCIC have already sent, and will continue to provide, to the CSD the essential documentation (internal procedures, technical specifications, manuals and forms, recommendations, links to international databases, etc.) that are relevant for the daily work and organization methods.

(e) Last, but not least, an Action plan will be developed to implement the Addendum to the Memorandum of Understanding between the European Commission and the AUC to promote twining and exchange.

III. Conclusion and way ahead

(14) Over the coming months, the Commission will identify in greater detail the inputs from services which hold primary responsibility for the implementation of the thematic partnerships, as well as the financial instruments and resources that will be used. The DGs involved include, inter alia, AIDCO, AGRI, COMM, DEV, EAC, EMPL, ENV, INFSO, JLS, REGIO, RELEX, RTD, SANCO, TAXUD, TRADE, TREN, as well as the JRC (Joint Research Centre) and the internal Commission DGs and services under the coordination of DG ADMIN. Regular inter-service consultations will review the present paper as a 'living document'.

(15) Such an updated tableau de bord will allow Commissioners and the Senior Management to provide the impetus for wider EU and euro-African efforts, and to exercise the necessary guidance and managerial oversight over the Commission-internal implementation process. This should in particular improve the monitoring of progress, the addressing of possible shortfalls, and the allocation of the necessary financial and human resources to underpin the implementation architecture and -process.

(16) A regularly updated review will also facilitate the compilation of consolidated EU inputs, bringing together Member States' and Commission initiatives, as contribution to future joint (EU African) progress reports.

(17) A review of the present working document will therefore be established in time before the first Ministerial EU-Africa Troika in 2009. Based on feedback from concerned European and African stakeholders, this revision should also address the financing of the working arrangements and institutional architecture agreed in Lisbon, including the possible use by the AU of the 55MEuro capacity building programme – managed by the AUC - to further support the participation of the African side.

GLOSSARY

Directorates General / Services

ADMIN Directorate General for Personnel and Administration

AGRI Directorate General for Agriculture and Rural Development

AIDCO EuropeAid Co-Operation Office

COMM Directorate General for Communication

DEV Directorate General for Development and Relations with ACP Countries

DGT Directorate General for Translation

EAC Directorate General for Education and Culture

ECFIN Directorate General for Economic and Financial Affairs

EMPL Directorate General for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities

ENTR Directorate General for Enterprise and Industry

ENV Directorate General for Environment

ESTAT Eurostat

INFSO Directorate General for Information Society and Media

IAS Internal Audit Service

JLS Directorate General for Justice, Freedom and Security

JRC Joint Research Centre

OLAF European Anti-Fraud Office

REGIO Directorate General for Regional Policy

RELEX Directorate General for External Relations

RTD Directorate General for Research

SANCO Directorate General for Health and Consumers

SCIC Directorate General for Translation

SG Secretariat General

TAXUD Directorate General for Taxation and Customs Union

TRADE Directorate General for Trade

TREN Directorate General for Energy and Transport

[1] Under this partnership, actions are essentially managed by DG DEV and DG RELEX, in cooperation with the General Secretariat of the Council.

[2] DG DEV and RELEX

[3] Notably DG DEV and TRADE

[4] Notably DG SANCO and TRADE

[5] Notably DG TAXUD

[6] EUROSTAT

[7] Notably DG REGIO

[8] Notably DG AGRI

[9] Notably DG SANCO

[10] Notably DG EAC

[11] Notably DG TREN

[12] Notably DG ENV

[13] DG DEV, JLS and RELEX

[14] Notably DG EMPL

[15] Notably DG EAC

[16] Notably DG DEV

[17] Notably DG RDT

[18] Notably DG INFSO

[19] Notably DG ENTR and JRC, in cooperation with ESA

[20] DG ADMIN, BUDG, SCIC, DG COMM, DGT and internal services