Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 09 December 2015- Different stakeholders involved in ACP-EU relations called for a paradigm shift in the partnership after 2020. This was during a special session of the Fridays of the Commission that took place yesterday, 8 December 2015 at the headquarters of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The Conference-debate brought together staff members of the African Union Commission, representatives of the regional economic communities (RECs), African and non-African diplomats based in Addis Ababa, researchers and academics, university and college students of Ethiopia, civil society organizations and private sector.

The Conference provided a window of opportunity to review the historic partnership between the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) and the European Union, as well as to pave the way for a fruitful cooperation between the two partners after 2020. A critical analysis of experts revealed that the results of the partnership are questionable. “After over 50 years of cooperation, we still have persistent underdevelopment, food insecurity, financial insecurity, climatic insecurity, migratory insecurity in ACP countries, especially in Africa. The cooperation has not helped us overcome poverty.” said Dr. Réné Kouassi N’Guettia, Director for Economic Affairs at the African Union Commission.

In the same vein, Geert Laporte, Deputy Director of European Centre for Development Policy Management (ECDPM), described the ACP-EU relations as a centralized cooperation, deeply entrenched in an aid delivery mechanism, that have resulted to a low overall performance and a weak ownership beyond Brussels based actors. “Technical adaptations will not change ACP-EU partnership. This is a structural systemic problem that need to be reviewed.” he emphasized.

Some specialists also pointed to the fact that the partnership was based on a donor-recipient centred approach that needs to be reconsidered. Moreover, they underlined the need for a paradigm shift that will transform the current paternalistic cooperation into economic development and trade cooperation.

Experts further argued in favour of a new partnership that will take into account the new globalised context and the current dynamics of the regional integration. Indeed, the new framework, which will come into existence after 2020 should embrace the new Africa’s Agenda 2063 and the recently adopted United Nations sustainable development goals. The role of the African Union was underscored as critical for the future of the ACP-EU relations. As Pan African continental body working for a prosperous and integrated Africa, the African Union will be a key player in mobilising the different Regional Economic Communities in the preparation process of a common position for the post-2020 ACP-EU relations.

Participants also called for a new agreement after 2020 that will prioritise the needs of African and European citizens, clarify aims and rethink the implementation of the agreement. They also made some suggestions including a unified and rationalised approach to avoid duplication, a result oriented cooperation, a short-term, efficient and more responsible agreement, a coherent policy of cooperation, among others. In addition, experts advocated for more accountability and communication among different stakeholders involved in the ACP-EU relations.

The urgent need for African countries to de-emphasise the partnership with Europe was highlighted during the discussions. To this end, experts called upon African governments to diversify and reinforce their cooperation with other partners and to increase the capacity of the Continent to fund its own development agenda.

The event was organized by the Department of Economic Affairs of the African Union Commission (AUC), in collaboration with the European Centre for Development Policy Management (ECDPM) and Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES).

The outcomes of the discussion will be published in the ‘Bulletin of the Friday of the Commission’ and disseminated to a wide audience for publicity including AU Member States, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), Universities and Development Partners, among others.

Notes to editors

ECDPM will release a political economy analysis of the ACP-EU relationship exploring options for the partnership beyond 2020.

For more information, please contact:

Ms. Ambela Barbara | Department of Economic Affairs | African Union Commission | Tel: (251) 115 18 2668 |Email: Ambelab@africa-union.org

Mr. Jerry Laurence Lemogo | Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission | Tel: +251929188440 | Website: www.au.int | Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

Mr. Rhys Williams | European Centre for Development Policy Management | Email: rw@ecdpm.org (ECDPM) | Website: http://ecdpm.org/