Research Centres

After 2 ½ years of existence, the JAES is currently being subjected to an in-depth reflection amongst the official stakeholders about its architecture and the contents of the next Action Plan. This review process could result in proposals for “significant changes” to be discussed at the next Africa-EU Ministerial Troika on the 27th of April 2010, which will come to some decisions to present to the Third EU-Africa Heads of State Summit scheduled for November 2010. ECDPM, as an independent non-partisan foundation that has followed the JAES since its inception, has sought to contribute to this process in the form of a paper scoping on what could be next for the Strategy. The paper seeks to refresh readers on the original commitments made in the JAES and to provide analysis on underlying successes and challenges, including upstream (political) bottlenecks. It also presents 3 possible reform scenarios for the future of the JAES as well as perspectives on how they might be achieved.

Debate on implications for the EU of Less Pretension, More Ambition. Development Aid that makes a Difference (Report of the Dutch Scientific Council for Government Policy, WRR, 2010). The debate aims to lead to recommendations to Andris Piebalgs, the new European Commissioner for Development - an appeal from experts from Africa, Europe, the authors of the report, and the citizens of Maastricht, the 1992 cradle of the current EU development policy. With:
* Mr. Peter van Lieshout, lead author WRR report ‘Less pretension, more ambition. Development aid that makes a difference' (Minder pretentie, meer ambitie: ontwikkelingshulp die verschil maakt)
* Mr. Paul Engel, Director European Centre for Development Policy Management (ECDPM)
* Mrs. Brave R. Ndisale, Malawi Head of Mission to the European Union

UNU WIDER Working Paper, February 2010

Meeting in Addis in February 2010, African Heads of States discussed a report which reviewed Africa's relations with different international partners. This year will be a milestone in EU-AU relations. African and European Heads of States will meet at the end of November to discuss the framework guiding the relationship between the two continents, namely the Joint Africa-EU Strategy (JAES) and its associated Action Plan. This small meeting, organised by the European Centre for Development Policy Management and the South African Institute of International Affairs, will discuss the JAES and its current challenges within the context of Africa's international relations and emerging actors on the continent. The purpose is to share perspectives within the two continents on the subject, both within Africa and Europe.

Article 13 on ‘Migration’ is a priority issue for European Union (EU) member states in the revision of the Cotonou Partnership Agreement (CPA). However, the ongoing revision process scheduled to be finalised at the end of February 2010 does not seem to be high on anyone’s agenda. This is a shame, as surely it is in the interest of both parties to make the most of this framework for ACP-EU relations that will expire in 2020. The CPA is the largest North-South partnership in the world and with its co-decision, joint management and Non-State-Actors participation principles, is regarded by some also as one of the most progressive cooperation frameworks. Its future after 2020 is nevertheless unclear and the current revision is an opportunity to ensure that it remains relevant in a changing context.

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Book Chapter, IDRC, February 2010

Book, IDRC ,February 2010