To find out more, visit the page on the Cotonou agreement: The EU finances development programmes and initiatives benefiting multiple countries across Africa. 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. It focuses on four areas which are highly relevant to the stabilisation of the region, namely: The EU-Africa partnership is developed through formal dialogues at various levels: The fifth African Union - EU summit took place on 29-30 November 2017 in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. Council and European Council documents are made available through the public register, in accordance with EU rules on transparency. It consists of the heads of state or government of the member states, together with its President and the President of the Commission. The new Pan-African Programme will provide a major contribution to the EU- Africa Partnership, which the two continents established in 2007 with the Joint Africa-EU Strategy … It proposes to work together on five key global trends: These proposals build on a growing momentum in EU-Africa relations. South Sudan: Declaration by the High Representative Josep Borrell on behalf of the European Union Europe and Africa have close historical, cultural and geographical ties. So there are tariffs that affect some South African goods. But we have also seen important developments in their relationships with each other. 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 … The EU is looking to make a deal with North African countries similar to the deal it made with Turkey in 2016. African countries and the EU cooperate through multiple frameworks such as: In addition to these frameworks, the Council has adopted three regional strategies for the: Africa-EU relations also take place through formal dialogues, such as the EU-Africa summits. This outlines the EU's support to address the challenges of maritime security and organised crime in the region. “Now it is out of necessity,” the diplomat said. In June 2017, the EU committed to provide €50 million to support the newly established G5 Sahel Joint Force in order to improve security in the region. Adopted in 2015, the Sahel regional action plan 2015-2020 provides a solid basis for pursuing the objectives of the strategy. While the EU provides assistance to the African, Caribbean, and Pacific Group of States through the European Development Fund, it groups North Africa—the continent’s best … The Cotonou agreement is the overarching framework for EU relations with African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries. Gulf of Guinea 3. We engage African countries early and often as partners in pursuing our shared interests and values – from security, global health, climate change, freedom and democracy, and shared prosperity. Their implementation is closely coordinated with the Council's Political and Security Committee. Many of the European countries are reviving their ties with different African countries. Europe and Africa have close historical, cultural and geographical ties. This strategy was agreed by the African Union and EU institutions, as well as by African and EU countries. The Council of the EU meets in different configurations depending on the topic discussed. Follow the latest developments on policy-making and on legislation under negotiation. 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 next EU-AU Summit was identified as a pivotal moment for renewing a comprehensive joint strategic approach that delivers on these aspirations. 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. Countries in the region of the Gulf of Guinea are facing growing instability due to a lack of control over coastal waters and the coast itself. 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 EU works together closely with the African Unionin this area. With your permission, we will use AT internet cookies to produce aggregated, anonymous data about our visitors' browsing and behaviour on our website. 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. As a result of this, criminal activity is on the rise, such as: In March 2014, the Council adopted a strategy on the Gulf of Guinea. In 2014, EU and African countries agreed on the roadmap for 2014-2017. The Horn of Africa, a region in East Africa , has faced repetitive droughts over the past years, causing a severe humanitarian crisis. The strategic framework has led among other things to: In 2015, the Council adopted the Horn of Africa regional action plan 2015-2020. The starkest example of the dark heart of the European Union is its brutal neo-colonial relationship with the Third World, particularly Africa. The Council and European Council are working to establish a comprehensive European migration policy. We use cookies in order to ensure that you can get the best browsing experience possible on the Council website. 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. The inauguration of the large-scale drinking water production plant located in Doraleh is funded by the European Union with 73 million euros and by the Djiboutian government with 5.5 million euros. 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. The EU was given its current structure and powers in 2007 with the Lisbon Treaty, also known as the Reform Treaty. 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. It covers the EU's relations with 79 countries, including 48 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. To underpin these actions, the EU and its member states have committed to a Team Europe global response package of almost €36 billion. The export numbers have tripled in the last few decades since the EU provides the immediate … Article 205 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). 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. The EU remains Africa’s biggest donor. One illustration is the joint visit to Mali in February 2015 by the African Union's Peace and Security Council and the EU's Political and Security Committee. Summaries of EU legislation on humanitarian aid and civil protection Minister argues EU should priorities the transition to clean energy in a treaty to be negotiated with the African Union . Deepening cooperation based around shared interests and values will enable both sides to achieve their common goals and to tackle global challenges. In 2018, the EU and its 27 Member States provided €19.6 billion – 46% of the total which Africa received. 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 Foreign Affairs Council welcomed the joint communication at its meeting on 15 May 2017. The Council is regularly updated on its implementation, including through annual reports. Africa’s continental integration has become a key priority for both the African Union and the EU. 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 … The EU-27 remains Africa’s main partner for trade in goods, making up 31% and 29% of African exports and imports respectively in 2019 (compared to China’s 11% and 16%). How much development and humanitarian aid does the EU provide in Africa? with the US, China, Russia and Turkey. Refugees receive life-saving in-kind and cash-based food assistance. All the EU’s relationships with the world’s key strategic actors have been in play, i.e. Other cookies are used to boost performance and guarantee security of the website. 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. Press officers speak 'off the record' about the Council's activities. A senior EU coordinator looks after the implementation of the EU Gulf of Guinea strategy and the action plan. The EU plans to invest more in Africa and wants to intensify trade relations. Europe is by far Africa's largest export market (35% of Africa's exports), followed by Africa itself (18%), China (11%), the USA (8%) and India (7%). The EU says it gives fully or partly duty-free access to 98.7% of imports coming from South Africa. The joint Africa-EU strategy was adopted in 2007 as the formal channel for EU relations with African countries. 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. 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. 03/04/2021 – HR/VP Blog - The humanitarian situation in the Ethiopian Tigray region remains very serious. 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. In November 2015, the EU and the African leaders most concerned agreed on the Valetta action plan. In March 2020, the European Commission and the EEAS put forth the Joint Communication “Towards a Comprehensive Strategy with Africa”. Europe is already spending over €2 billion to help African governments with border management and addressing the so-called root causes of migration. Horn of Africa 2. But the jury is still out on the effectiveness of this investment. The European Union continues to monitor the humanitarian situation in Burundi. EU Aid Explorer After 31 January 2020, the United Kingdom is no longer an EU Member State. That is why we must continue to mobilise international support for the Syrian people. The EU has negotiated a series of economic partnership agreements (EPAs) with 48 countries from Sub-Saharan Africa, as part of the Cotonou agreement. The Council of the EU and the European Council work on a wide range of issues affecting the interests of the EU and its citizens. The Council of the EU is the institution representing the member states' governments. Ethiopia: Minister for Foreign Affairs Haavisto on a second mission mandated by the EU High Representative Borrell, Ethiopia: G7 Foreign Ministers' Statement on the situation in Tigray, Action de l’UE et de ses Etats Membres face à la pandémie de Covid-19, Sudan: Statement by High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell and Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen for clearing it’s arrears to the IDA, En Côte d’Ivoire, l’Union européenne s’engage auprès des autorités et des populations dans la lutte contre la circulation et le trafic des armes légères, et la prévention de la violence armée, http://www.facebook.com/EuropeanExternalActionService, https://www.youtube.com/user/EUExternalAction?feature=mhee, EU sanctions general Gabriel Moses Lokujo for human rights violations, Ambassador Bader commits to continued EU support to Women’s empowerment in South Sudan, South Sudan: Declaration by the High Representative Josep Borrell on behalf of the European Union, Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs), South Georgian and South Sandwich Islands, Palestine (*) - Occupied Palestinian Territory, West Bank and Gaza Strip, EU Annual Reports on Human Rights and Democracy, Call African European Youth Forum 28-29 September 2020, Zantchito (Skills for Jobs) – Project Fiche, Election Observation Mission Malawi 2019 - FINAL REPORT, Factsheet on EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa, Africa’s Integrated Maritime Strategy (AIM), Oceans Beyond Piracy website and Gulf of Guinea map, New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), The African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP).