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EU trade policy

Beyond development aid: EU-Africa political dialogue on global issues of common concern

EPAs a common source of tension between Africa and the EU

Authors: A. Sherriff; P.M. Ferreira; S. Zondi
Publisher: Europe-Africa Policy Research Network, 2010

Full text of document

This publication is intended to address the EU-Africa political dialogue on global issues of common concern, like peace and security, human rights, climate change and finance. The paper underlines the announcement of the Joint Africa–EU Strategy (JAES) in 2007 as an important development, though the stated goal of this strategy has not been fulfilled significantly.


The document introduces the following findings:

  • regarding the African-EU peace and security partnership, the increasingly divergent approaches to the understanding of security represents a serious obstacle
  • despite their development objectives, Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) have become a source of continued tension between the EU and Africa
  • Africa lacks a coherent and thought-through agenda for an Africa-Europe partnership
  • in this sense, part of the challenge is the manner in which decision-making takes place in African countries

The authors deem the sustained gap in capabilities, threat perceptions and principles and values, which could undermine the envisioned equality between the EU and Africa, should be dealt with immediately. Furthermore, clearly defined, periodic, technical meetings should be held to consolidate the partnership.

The report additionally recommends the following:

  • coordination mechanisms between the EU and Africa need to be further strengthened or invented
  • these mechanisms should be based on joint strategic plans and joint work plans
  • the EU needs to approach the African Union as a genuine partner rather than as a patron
  • nonetheless, both groupings must be prepared to engage with the compromising business of diplomatic and trade engagement
  • climate change should be approached as a cross-cutting issue, but the possibility of political abuse of this issue has to be awore of
  • concerning EPAs, a more flexible approach may prove a more effective way forward than the imposition of too-tight deadlines by the EU.