EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 184/88

Thurday 21 February 2008

Scientific cooperation with Africa

P6_TA(2008)0067

European Parliament resolution of 21 February 2008 on the importance of supporting measures to improve international scientific cooperation with Africa

2009/C 184 E/13

The European Parliament,

having regard to the recent EU-Africa Summit of 8 and 9 December 2007, the EU-Africa Strategic Partnership and the EU-Africa Action Plan (2008-2010),

having regard to its resolution of 31 January 2008 on the European Research Area: New Perspectives (1),

having regard to the role of energy technology in the battle against climate change,

having regard to Rule 103(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

1. Acknowledges the increasing trend among policy-makers in Africa to prioritize science and technology (S&T) and innovation for development;

2. Recognises the valuable contribution of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), its S&T consolidated plan of action and the S&T programmes of the African Union, and calls for a better implementation and fuller development thereof and for the relevant measures to be improved;

3. Underlines the need to increase the involvement of African scientists in international collaborative science and research and development (R&D) projects in order to keep and develop R&D knowledge in Africa, in particular in specific sectors such as food, health and energy;

4. Recalls the special relevance of neglected diseases within the 7th Research Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2), and considers that special emphasis should be placed on research into HIV/AIDS in African countries;

5. Calls for the reinforcement of existing research infrastructure in accordance with the indications of the African Union and the African scientific community, including the NEPAD Office for Science and Technology, the programmes of the African Union and R&D projects, in particular in specific sectors such as food, health and energy;

6. Urges the Member States to promote S&T cooperation with Africa that will rapidly secure genuine and comprehensive development of the knowledge and technologies in the African countries themselves;

7. Notes that scientific progress contributes to the economic and social development envisaged in the Millennium Development Goals; calls in particular on the EU to place climate change at the forefront of its S&T cooperation with Africa, tapping primarily into the huge renewable energy sources available in Africa, with particular reference to solar energy;

8. Urges the Member States to promote knowledge and technology transfer between the EU and Africa, along with R&D projects, under a new coherent framework for action to achieve immediate and long-term goals for sustainable development, and develop policy and resources accordingly;

9. Calls on the EU and the Member States to ensure greater consistency between the EU's international S&T policy and the basic needs of African countries, thus leading to the development of a new global framework for science and diplomacy with Africa;

10. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the parliaments of the Member States and the United Nations.

(1) Texts Adopted, P6_TA(2008)0029.

(2) OJ L 412, 30.12.2006, p. 1.