Joint Press Release
March 24, 2014 Addis Ababa
European Union and African Union renew the African Union Support Programme II with 31.8 Million Euro
The African Union Commission (AUC) and the European Union (EU) have signed an agreement renewing funding of the African Union Support Programme II (AUSP II) with EU €28.8 Million and AU €3 Million contribution at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa. The programme aims to support the acceleration of African integration and sustainable development efforts as foreseen in the vision and mission of the AU, while building capacity of the AU organs.
The first phase of AU Support Programme, under which EU provided € 55 Million from 2006-2013, facilitated an integrated and comprehensive support to the AU organs (AU Commission, Pan African Parliament, African Commission for Human and Peoples' Rights and the African Court for Human and Peoples' Rights).
Taking stock of the achievements and the lessons learned of the previous programme, the AU Support Programme II will assist the AUC and the other AU organs to establish and maintain the institutional and management capacity to timely, effectively and efficiently implement AU medium and long term visions and strategies, and to contribute effectively to the implementation of the Africa-EU Partnership for the coming three years (2014-2017).
Speaking on the occasion, EU Head of Delegation to the African Union Gary Quince noted the new funding shows EU's commitment by delivering uninterrupted support for the AU Support Programme and consider it as a flagship programme among the Africa EU strategic partnership initiatives.
As for H.E the Deputy Chairperson, Mr. Erastus Mwencha, signing on behalf of the African Union Commission, “the Africa - EU partnership is a seamless partnership; the fruits are there for all to see, in terms of capacity building, institutional and programme implementation.
The 4th EU-Africa Summit will take place in Brussels on 2-3 April 2014, bringing African and EU leaders together under the theme "Investing in People, Prosperity and Peace".
