During 3-4 April, over 60 African heads of states and more than 90 delegations met in Brussels for the fourth EU-Africa summit. In a statement released ahead of the meeting, EU council president Herman Van Rompuy, said the meeting was an opportunity for "Africa and the European Union to come together to address the challenges that each continent faces". He added that the key themes of the summit will be "everyday concerns of our citizens, their safety and security, job prospects, and their future as individuals and in families. I look forward to a summit that will further reinforce our partnership."
In recognition of the changes and the challenges both continents faced, the Belgian politicial said in his opening speech at the summit, "We have our own problems in Europe; economic challenges, youth unemployment, and now a crisis in our east… Africa too has its challenges; economic growth, areas of insecurity and related humanitarian issues, and continental integration. We must therefore deal with the problems facing each of us in our continent, and work together to tackle the global challenges facing all of us."
Stressing the status of EU-African relations as a partnership, Van Rompuy also said, "Make no mistake there are things on which Europe needs Africa's help. We need your help to tackle climate change, manage migration, and to improve security on both our continents."
"Make no mistake there are things on which Europe needs Africa's help. We need your help to tackle climate change, manage migration, and to improve security on both our continents"
With the official themes of 'investing in people, prosperity and peace' dominating the talks, the former Belgian prime minister welcomed the progress African countries had made in carrying out military operations in Somalia, Mali and the Central African Republic. At the summit he announced that the EU will continue to work with the UN on security issues in Africa, but also pledged further financial support of €750m to the African peace facility. "We shall support the development of crisis management capacities by providing training and development. To that end, seven EU missions are currently deployed to deal with problems in Somalia, Mali, Libya, the Sahel, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. By 2016 over 17,000 military personal will have been trained thanks to European support."
Van Rompuy also highlighted the growing importance of trade and business in EU-Africa relations. On the eve of the summit, over 800 business and economic leaders met in Brussels to find ways of improving business relations and fostering more investment in African countries. For Van Rompuy, this reflected "a fundamental shift from aid to trade and investment, as agents of growth and poverty reduction". Imports from Africa to the EU during 2007 to 2012 increased by 46 per cent, and were worth €187bn in 2012. The role of SMEs, access to affordable credit, the fight against corruption and the promotion of good governance were also discussed.
According to the EU council president, economic partnership agreements currently being negotiated between Europe and West Africa, can be used as "building blocks towards continental integration though the creation of a free trade area". To encourage this, he announced that the EU will give €844m over the next seven years towards the EU pan-African programme. Also, the EU hopes to mobilise up to €30bn in investment, including spending on infrastructure by accessing private sector funds. However, he called upon African leaders to transform their agricultural sector. "Africa needs an agricultural revolution which is why 2014 is the African year of agriculture. Over the next seven years, the EU will make €3bn available for agriculture in over 30 African countries."
Van Rompuy also highlighted EU and African leaders' discussions on the need to uphold and promote human rights in both Europe and Africa and it was agreed that 2016 will be set as African human rights year.
As part of the summit's declaration, a willingness to protect women and children affected by armed conflicts and the prevention sexual violence was reaffirmed. Leaders also recognised the need to develop the educational and entrepreneurial skills of the African peoples, especially among women and the youth.
Migration was another key issue that was discussed where a five point action plan was agreed "to prevent further tragedies like those off Lampedusa or in the deserts of Niger happening again".
In his concluding remarks, the EU official said that "the summit has demonstrated how wide and deep our relationship is, and how shared values and a shared vision of the future enables us to face the challenges of the present. Our partnership of equals has come of age."