Africa-EU Summit, Cairo, 3-4 April 2000

The Africa-EU Summit took place in Cairo from the 3-4 April 2000 under the aegis of the European Union (EU) and the Organisation of African Unity (OAU). This was the first-ever formal summit meeting of government leaders from the African states (specifically, this meant countries which are members of the United Nations) and the Member States of the European Union, plus representatives of the Council of the European Union, European Commission, the Organisation of African Unity and the United Nations.

Background

The EU maintains an extensive and multifaceted range of bilateral and multilateral links with many countries and regions in the world. Over a number of years the EU has developed formal mechanisms of communication, at heads of government level, with a number of regional groupings in the world, most notably in Asia and Latin America. African countries and, in particular, the Organanisation of African Unity, have been pressing the EU for a similar high-level forum to allow discussion of issues of mutual concern. The EU agreed in 1997 to such a forum and the summit that took place in Cairo in April 2000 was the eventual outcome.

It would be wrong, however, to suggest that until the Africa-EU Summit there were no formal mechanisms for communication between Africa, and its individual countries, and the EU, and the Member States. Through a large number of channels there is substantial communication between the two continents and the component parts. First of all, there is the historical phenomenon of large scale European colonisation of the African continent and the residual connections between countries such as France, Italy, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom and their former colonies.

A number of African countries in the North of the continent (including Algeria, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia) take part in the Euromed process. Above all, a large number of African countries are part of the African, Caribbean, Pacific (ACP) group of countries which maintain extensive contact with the EU. A new agreement has been reached in 2000 (to be signed in June 2000) to govern EU-ACP relations in the future and which will replace the Lomé Convention. In addition, much of the development assistance provided by the EU through the European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO) goes to countries in Africa. Finally, the EU has recently signed a new Trade, Cooperation and Development Agreement with South Africa.

History, geography and economics dictate that there will be close contact between Africa and Europe. It is also true, however, that these factors also provide the scope for tension in deciding the policy priorities in, and the nature of, the relationship. As Colonel Gaddifi of Libya said at the Summit on 4 April 2000: 'We don't need democracy, we need water pumps'. Robert Mugabe, the leader of Zimbabwe, complained that Britain was still treating his country like a colony.

The Africa-EU Summit, Cairo, 3-4 April 2000

Portugal has been one of the most enthusiastic proponents of an Africa-EU summit and it is probably no coincidence that the meeting took place during the Portuguese EU Presidency (January-June 2000). In the programme for the Portuguese EU Presidency it says:

The Portuguese Presidency will give particular attention to deepening the European Union's cooperation relations with the African continent.

Nevertheless, specific mention of the Africa-EU Summit was not included in the Programme as it looked as if the meeting would not take place only a few months ago for a variety of reasons.

After many diplomatic manoeuvres it was announced in early 2000 that the Summit would place in April 2000, which left the officials planning the event a very short time to arrange the detailed programme and ensure a large attendance by government leaders and heads of state. It was stated that the Summit had the following objectives:

Through the establishment of solid lines of communication for efficient dialogue, the summit will signal the relaunching of a Africa-Europe partnership, raising the status of the African continent to that of a basic partner of the European Union with a statute similar to those of Asia and Latin America.

The result of joint negotiation between the European and African countries, the agenda of this new Euro-African dialogue will cover economic, social, political and development questions.

The summit will adopt a Final Declaration and a Plan of Action, laying out the guidelines for the future Euro-African partnership.
Portugal: EU Presidency: Press Release, 23.2.00

In the week before the Summit the Portuguese EU Presidency issued a Press Release, through the Council of the European Union, outlining the detailed timetable and agenda themes for the Summit. Three main themes were outlined, a session being devoted to each theme:

• Economic and social issues: prospects for regional integration; integrating Africa into the world economy - trade, investment, transfer of technology, Africa's external debt
• Political issues: human rights; democratic principles and institutions; good governance and the rule of law; peace building, conflict prevention, management and resolution. Also empowering the civil society, migration issues and xenophobia, refugees, terrorism and illegal arms trafficking
• Development: challenges to sustainable development in Africa - poverty eradication, investment in human resources, education, health and investment.

Right up until the last day before the Summit there was disagreement as to the text of the final declaration and plan of action, in particular on the question of what follow-up meeting mechanisms should be agreed. The EU did not want the conference to be a specific pledging event, while the African nations did not want lectures on human rights and good governance. There was also a fear that there would be many fine words and little substantive outcome.

The Summit itself proceeded smoothly, amidst very tight security in the Egyptian capital. From the EU side the Summit was launched by a speech by the President of the European Council, the Portuguese Prime Minister António Guterres:

The nature of this Summit fills us with a sense of deepest responsibility for what it represents. It is the largest meeting of Heads of State and Government between two continents that has ever been held and it is our hope that our common commitment, which this fact reflects, should bear fruit over many years to come. It is in our hands to make sure that the profoundly symbolic nature of this gathering, and the substance of our work, is equally rich in consequences for the peoples of our continents.

Other speeches by EU leaders were given by Romano Prodi, European Commission President and Javier Solana, Secretary-General of the Council of the European Union and High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy (at the time of compilation of this In Focus there was no source available of all contributions made at the Summit).

At the end of the Summit the leaders adopted two documents:

• Cairo Plan of Action
• Declaration of Cairo

In the Declaration of Cairo the Heads of State and Government pledged:

In order to give a new strategic dimension to the global partnership between Africa and Europe for the Twenty First Century, in a spirit of equality, respect, alliance and co-operation between our regions, We are committed to the basic objective of strengthening the already existing links of political, economic and cultural understanding through the creation of an environment and an effective framework for promoting a constructive dialogue on economic, political, social and development issues.

In the Plan of Action there were proposals agreed under the following headings:

• Economic issues
  • Regional economic co-operation and integration
  • Trade
  • Private sector development
  • Investment
  • Resources for development
  • Infrastructural problems and industrial base
  • Research and technology
  • External debt
  • Co-operation in international fora
• Human rights, democratic principles and institutions, good governance and the rule of law
  • democratic principles and the rule of law
  • good governance and rule of law
  • civil society
  • migration
  • refugees and internally displaced persons (IDP)
• Peace-building, confluct prevention, management and resolution
  • disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration
  • terrorism
  • small arms and light weapons
  • landmines
  • The 2000 Review Conference on the Non-Proliferation Treaty
  • Post-conflict assistance
• Development issues
  • Challenges to sustainable development in Africa and poverty eradication
  • Education
  • Health
  • The environment
  • Food security
  • Drug abuse and trafficking
  • Cultural issues
• Follow-up mechanism

It was announced that there would be a follow-up Africa-EU Summit in 2003 in Europe, probably in Greece or Portugal. Appropriate Ministers from the EU and African countries will meet before 2003 in the framework of existing mechanisms of inter-regional co-operation, while a bi-regional group at a Senior Officials' level will meet regularly to monitor and encourage the achievement of the priorities for action.

Other connected stories from the Summit

Libya

Relations between Libya and the EU have been strained for many years. Recently, attempts have been made to re-establish closer ties and reduce tensions. In particular, the EU would like to see Libya become part of the Euromed Partnership. European Commission President Prodi had intimated earlier in the year that an invitation might be forthcoming for Colonel Gaddafi to visit Brussels if certain conditions were met. In the event this visit did not take place. On the fringes of the Africa-EU Summit President Prodi met Colonel Gaddafi on 3 April in Cairo. The official European Commission Press Release suggested that there was considerable progress in advancing relations between Libya and the EU. It stated:

Colonel Gadaffi insisted on the priority Libya attaches to close relations with Europe both on a bilateral level and in the framework of regional co-operation with the other North African Mediterranean Countries

However, on the following day, Colonel Gaddafi launched an attack on the EU in his speech to the Summit saying:

Leave us alone as your ideas and culture differ from ours

President Prodi was said to be disappointed by the speech.

However, a rather different perspective on Colonel Gaddafi's speech was provided by the Panafrican News Agency.

Famine in Africa

The Africa-EU Summit took place against the backdrop of a famine of severe proportions in Ethiopia and neighbouring countries in the Horn of Africa. The European Commissioner for Development, Poul Neilsen pledged assistance at the Summit. The European Commission issued a Press Release on 5 April 2000 outlining what it is doing to respond in terms of food and other humanitarian aid to the area:

The European Commission is very concerned about the threat of famine in the Horn of Africa, in particular in Ethiopia. The chronic shortage of food has been aggravated by lack of rain. As in the past, the Commission will continue to provide necessary assistance to those in need of food. Since the beginning of the year the Commission has allocated 225,000 tons of food aid to Ethiopia of which shipments of 32,000 tons have been brought forward to April/May. At present, further food shipments are programmed and additional commitments are being made.

Further information on EU humanitarian assistance in Africa can be found on the website of the European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO). Further information on the current famine in the Horn of Africa can be found on the website of the World Food Programme.

Further information within European Sources Online:

European Sources Online: European Voice
	29.7.99:	Leaders aim to put 'forgotten continent' top of the agenda
	16.12.99:	Western Sahara dispute threatens to scupper plans for EU-Africa summit
	21.1.00:	EU-Africa summit is back on track
	30.3.00:	Africa summit shines spotlight on the 'forgotten continent'
	30.3.00:	Union seeks to boost flagging trade with continent
	30.3.00:	New pact is milestone on the road towards free trade with ACP bloc
Further information can be seen in these external links: (long-term access cannot be guaranteed)
BBC News Online:
	2.4.00:	Africa and Europe meet in Cairo
	3.4.00:	Agenda wrangle in landmark summit
	3.4.00:	Fresh start urged at landmark summit
	3.4.00:	Africa and Europe: Burying colonialism?
	4.4.00:	Tight security at Africa-Europe summit
	7.4.00:	Does Africa need lessons in democracy?
	See also: BBC World Service: Africa and Middle East and BBC Focus on Africa
Radio Netherlands:
	31.3.00:	Landmark summit raises awareness of Africa
	5.4.00:	The Cairo Summit: A successful talking shop
Panafrican News Agency:
	4.4.00:	Summit Mbeki Calls For Capital Investment In Africa
	5.4.00:	Chirac Optimistic About Africa' Future
Tunisia Online:
	4.4.00:	Africa's Integration into the Global Economy
The Post of Zambia:
	5.4.00:	Africa/EU Summit Enters Second Day
Ghanaian Chronicle:
	7.4.00:	What Africa Failed To Do At The Cairo Summit (Editorial)
The Mail and Guardian:
	7.4.00:	Letter From The North: Stop Your Cheating, Europe!
Further African perspectives on the Summit can be found in the following news services, which can be found on the pages of the Africa News Service.
United Kingdom: Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	4.4.00:	Intervention by Robin Cook at the Africa-EU Summit, Cairo
Organisation of African Unity
Africa Service
Africa Governments on the Web
United Nations: Economic Commission for Africa
Egypt State Information Service
Civil Society Forum for Euro-African Partnership
European Commission: DG Development
	Relations with African countries
	ACP-EU relations

Ian Thomson
Executive Editor, European Sources Online
Compiled: 9 April 2000

A meeting of government leaders from the European Union (EU) and the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) took place in Cairo on 3-4 April 2000.