People have to be at the core of an Africa-EU Strategic Partnership was the conclusion made by representatives from twelve African countries and Germany who met in Nairobi on the 6th and 7th of April. At the international conference, organised by the Kenyan resource organisation TAABCO and VENRO, the Umbrella Association of German Development CSOs, the participants assessed shortcomings and opportunities of the Strategy which was approved by the Heads of State and Government meeting in Lisbon, Portugal in 2007.  

Agnes Abuom director of TAABCO stretched: “Trade between Europe and Africa could provide a real chance for development, but because of the EPA, the relations have been distorted. Civil Society Organizations in Africa and Europe have therefore engaged in campaigning for real development oriented trade relations.

She further noted that the concerns and demands of Civil Society in the EPA process have been ignored hence civil society is sceptical about their   concerns and perspectives regarding the JAES approach being addressed.   Energy security is a major concern both in Africa and Europe.

Improved access to modern energy services that are affordable, climate-friendly and sustainable are required as this is lacking for large parts of Africa´s population, especially in rural areas, stressed Christa Randzio-Plath, VENRO vice-chairperson. Africa and the EU should put the right to food first in their pursuit of energy security through bioenergy, she said. Energy efficiency should be promoted and imported fossil fuels should be replaced with domestic renewable energies.

VENRO hat jetzt das Positionspapier „The Joint Africa-EU Strategy and Poverty Eradication“ veröffentlicht. Das Papier wurde im April dieses Jahres auf der internationalen Partnerkonferenz des VENRO-Projekts „Afrikas Perspektive – Europas Politik“ erarbeitet. Die Konferenz fand in der kenianischen Hauptstadt Nairobi statt.

Das Positionspapier enthält Forderungen zur Afrika-EU-Strategie an politische Entscheidungsträger beider Kontinente. Das Dokument wurde von afrikanischen und europäischen zivilgesellschaftlichen Vertreterinnen und Vertreter gemeinsam erarbeitet.

Die Publikation kann kostenfrei unter afrikas.perspektive(at)venro.org bestellt werden.

Die ausführliche Dokumentation der Konferenz in Nairobi. PDF

Das Positionspapier der Nairobi-Konferenz in Englisch.
Das Positionspapier der Nairobi-Konferenz in Französisch.