[pic] | IL-KUMMISSJONI TAL-KOMUNITAJIET EWROPEJ |

Brussell, 13.07.2006

KUMM(2006) 376 finali

KOMUNIKAZZJONI MILL-KUMMISSJONI LILL-KUNSILL U LILL-PARLAMENT EWROPEW

L-interkonnessjoni ta’ l-Afrika: Sħubija dwar l-Infrastruttura bejn l-UE u l-Afrika {SEG(2006) 896} {SEG(2006) 983}

WERREJ

1. Nilqgħu l-isfidi ta’ l-infrastruttura biex ikun aċċellerat l-iżvilupp 3

1.1. L-isfidi ta’ l-iżvilupp 3

1.2. Il-ġlieda kontinwa ta’ l-Afrika 4

1.3. L-Afrika għandha bżonn tinvesti aktar fl-infrastruttura 5

1.4. Żieda fl-investiment titlob sistemi aħjar u istituzzjonijiet li jsostnuhom 5

2. Il-viżjoni kontinentali u reġjonali ta’ l-Afrika 6

2.1. L-Unjoni Afrikana – sieħeb privileġġat 6

2.2. NEPAD – Pjan ta’ Azzjoni għal Perjodu Qasir dwar l-Infrastruttura (i-STAP) 6

2.3. Il-kisba tal-miri ta’ l-infrastruttura tan-NEPAD tfisser li l-affarijiet għandhom isiru b’mod differenti 6

3. L-inizjattiva ta’ l-Unjoni Ewropea: Sħubija dwar l-Infrastruttura bejn l-UE u l-Afrika 7

3.1. Miri 7

3.2. L-ambitu 7

3.3. L-Ewropa ġġib magħha għarfien espert u esperjenza min-netwerks trans-Ewropej tagħha 8

4. Is-Sħubija fil-prattika 8

4.1. Operazzjonijiet istituzzjonali 8

4.2. Strumenti ta' implimentazzjoni 9

4.3. L-Operazzjonijiet 11

4.4. Ko-ordinazzjoni ma’ l-Istati Membri, organi internazzjonali oħra u inizjattivi 12

4.5. Strateġija għal Sħubija sostenibbli 12

ANNESS 14

KOMUNIKAZZJONI MILL-KUMMISSJONI LILL-KUNSILL U LILL-PARLAMENT EWROPEW

L-interkonnessjoni ta’ l-Afrika: Sħubija dwar l-Infrastruttura bejn l-UE u l-Afrika

Meta kien qiegħed ifassal l-istrateġija tiegħu għall-Afrika, il-Kunsill Ewropew ikkonkluda li tkabbir malajr, sostenut u fuq firxa wiesgħa hu essenzjali għall-iżvilupp u għall-ġlieda kontra l-faqar[1]. Waħda mill-miżuri li jissottolineaw l-istrateġija tal-Kunsill hi l-ħolqien ta’ Sħubija dwar l-Infrastruttura bejn l-UE u l-Afrika. Is-Sħubija, sforz konġunt ta’ l-UE, iwieġeb għall-miri ta’ żvilupp ta’ l-Unjoni Afrikana u tas-Sħubija l-Ġdida għall-Iżvilupp ta' l-Afrika (NEPAD) tagħha. Għandha l-għan li żżid b’mod sostanzjali l-investiment ta’ l-UE fl-infrastruttura Afrikana u l-forniment ta’ servizzi tat-trasport, l-enerġija, l-ilma u l-ICT. it-titjib fl-infrastruttura, is-servizzi relatati u l-qafas regolatorju se jikkontribwixxu għat-tkabbir ekonomiku sostenibbli, jippromovu l-kummerċ, joġolqu l-impjiegi u xogħol deċenti, ikabbru l-integrazzjoni reġjonali u jnaqqsu l-faqar. Il-kisba tal-miri tiddependi wkol fuq l-isforzi sotenuti għat-titijib tal-paċi u s-sigurtà, u tmexxija fl-Afrika.

1. NILQGħU L-ISFIDI TA’ L-INFRASTRUTTURA BIEX IKUN AċċELLERAT L-IżVILUPP

Riċerka Ewropea u Afrikana turi li t-trattament ta’ l-isfidi ta’ l-infrastruttura u s-servizzi relatati jistgħu jikkontribwixxu b’mod effettiv fil-kisba u s-sostenn ta’ rati ta’ tkabbir ta’ 7% neċessarji għall-kisba ta’ l-MDGs[2]. Is-Sħubija tfasslet biex tilqa' dawn l-isfidi.

1.1. L-isfidi ta’ l-iżvilupp

Biex nistimulaw tkabbir ekonomiku sostenibbli: Biex l-Afrika tinvesti fl-Afrika u tattira investiment dirett barrani jiddependi ħafna fuq infrastruttura li wieħed jista’ jorbot fuqha u s-servizzi li tagħti. Dan jirrikjedi ambjent ekonomiku stabbli, sikur u mmexxi tajjeb. Skond xi stimi, żieda ta’ perċentwali wieħed fl-istokk ta’ l-infrastruttura tista’ żżid perċentwali wieħed fit-tkabbir PGD[3].

Promozzjoni ta’ kummerċ kompetittiv: L-Afrika għandha bżonn trasport effiċjenti u sistema ta’ komunikazzjoni li tista’ twassal l-oġġetti tagħha lis-swieq nazzjonali, reġjonali u internazzjonali. Iċ-ċaqliq ta’ l-oġġetti fl-Afrika hu aktar diffiċli u jiswa kważi d-doppju ta’ dak li jiswa f’reġjuni oħra li qed jiżviluppaw, speċjalment f'pajjiżi mdwarin bl-art. Titjib fil-politika u r-riforma regolatorja fil-kummerċ, it-trasport u l-ITC, l-iżvilupp tal-kapaċità u l-infrastruttura fiżika għandhom il-potenzjal li jnaqqsu b’mod sinifikanti l-ispejjeż tat-trasport u jżidu t-trasport.

Trawwim ta' inizjattivi reġjonali: L-Afrika għandha bżonn tespandi l-kummerċ tagħha. Dan jitlob impenn għal integrazzjoni fil-ftehimiet kummerċjali reġjonali koerenti u armonizzazzjoni ta’ l-infrastruttura tal-politika u l-oqsfa regolatorji. Komunikazzjoni tajba u l-użu tat-teknoloġiji elettroniċi jistgħu jaċċelleraw il-proċess.

Kontribut effettiv lill-MDGs: illum ’il fuq minn 300 miljun ruħ – xi 42% tal-populazzjoni ta' l-Afrika – għadha mingħajr aċċess għal ilma nadif. Bl-istess mod, 60% tal-populazzjoni m’għandhiex aċċess għal sanità bażika. Anqas minn 20% tal-populazzjoni ta’ l-Afrika għandha aċċess għall-elettriku, u razzjonar u qtugħ ta’ l-enerġija huma parti mir-rutina ta’ kuljum. Dan igerrex il-ħolqien ta’ l-impjiegi u investiment industrijali u jwaqqaf l-produzzjoni ta’ l-oġġetti u servizzi kompetittivi. Aċċess għal servizzi mhux għaljin ta' ilma u enerġija moderna, sanità u iġene aħjar huma essenzjali biex jinkisbu l-MDGs kollha.

1.2. Il-ġlieda kontinwa ta’ l-Afrika

Fis-snin disgħin ħafna pajjiżi Afrikani adottaw politika ġdida ta’ infrastruttura, li wasslet għal riformi istituzzjonali u finanzjari ewlenin biex jagħtu infrastruttura sostenibbli. Minkejja li sar progress, għad baqa’ ħafna xi jsir, inkluż titjib fit-tmexxija u l-integrazzjoni reġjonali.

Is-sistemi tat-trasport, minkejja dgħajfa, bil-mod qed juru titjib: t-trasport tat-triq jirrapreżenta 90% tat-trasport interurban iżda l-konnessjonijiet fiżiċi u s-servizzi mhumiex adegwati. Kopertura tan-netwerk tal-ferrovija hi nieqsa u l-interkonnettività tan-netwerks hi baxxa. Ħafna portijiet isibuha diffiċli biex joffru servizzi kompetittivi u mogħdijiet ta’ l-ilma fil-pajjiż huma integrati b’mod fqir għan-netwerks tat-trasport. It-trasport bl-ajru ma bbenefikax bis-sħiħ mill-adozzjoni tad-deċiżjoni ta’ Yamoussoukro fl-1999. Il-kondizzjoni tat-toroq qiegħda titjieb fejn il-prattiċi promossi mill-Programm ta’ Politika dwar it-Trasport tas-Sub-Sahara Afrikan (SSATP) qed ikunu implimentati. L-effiċjenza tal-ferrovija u l-portijiet qed juru titjib fejn il-forniment tas-servizzi jingħata lis-settur privat. Iżda l-ispejjeż tat-trasport jibqgħu għoljin, aktar għoljin minn tar-reġjuni l-oħrajn li qed jiżviluppaw, b’medja ta’ 14% tal-valur ta’ l-esportazzjonijiet kollha mqabbla ma’ l-8.6% għall-pajjiżi kollha li qegħdin jiżviluppaw, u għoljin aktar għal pajjiżi mdawrin bl-art – il-Malawi (56%), iċ-Ċhad (52%) u l-Irwanda (48%)[4].

Il-potenzjal ta’ l-enerġija hu abbundanti iżda mhux użar b’effiċjenza: ħafna mill-fjuwil fossili hu esportat. Riżorsi rinnovabbli bil-kemm jintużaw jew jintużaw fuq bażi sostenibbli u 7% biss tal-potenzjal idroenerġetiku ta’ l-Afrika jinqaleb f’elettriku. Il-qsim ta’ l-enerġija elettrika u l-interkonnettività qed jindirizzaw il-problema ta’ servizzi li ma tistax torbot fuqhom u għoljin. Aktar ko-operazzjoni nazzjonali u bejn il-fruntieri fis-settur ta’ l-enerġija u l-kummerċ hi essenzjali biex titjieb l-affidabilità u l-aċċessibilità u jitnaqqsu l-ispejjeż.

Ir-riżorsi ta’ l-ilma mhumiex imqassma bl-istess mod u xita mhix regolari jxekklu aċċess ekwu: ħafna pajjiżi Afrikani jsofru minn tibdiliet kbar staġjonali ta’ xita u ċikli perjodiċi ta’ nixfa u għarar li jirrestrinġu l-produzzjoni ta’ l-ikel, il-protezzjoni ta’ l-ekosistema u l-iżvilupp ekonomiku, partikularment fost il-fqar. Baċiri ta’ xmajjar li jaqsmu l-fruntieri għandhom bżonn ġestjoni konġunta għall-konservazzjoni u qsim ekwu tar-riżorsi - prijorità tal-Kunsill Ministerjali Afrikan dwar l-Ilma fl-isforzi biex iwettqu l-Viżjoni Afrikana ta' l-Ilma għall-2025. It-tnaqqis ta’ l-ispejjeż ta' u t-titjib ta’ l-aċċess tas-servizzi ta' l-ilma fuq livell ta' pajjiż għandhom bżonn ambjent stabbli u finanzjarjament sikur, u tmexxija stabbli u sikura.

It-teknoloġija tal-komunikazzjoni ta’ l-Afrika qiegħda tikber b’pass mgħaġġel minkejja li l-aċċess għas-servizzi hu mraqqa: konnettività tal-linja telefonika fissa, l-aktar baxxa fid-dinja, qiegħda tikber b'pass sod iżda intgħelbet minn tkabbir drammatiku fis-servizzi telefoniċi tal-mobajl[5]. Aċċess rurali għadu lura ħafna wara l-aċċess urban. Il-qasma diġitali, l-akbar waħda fid-dinja, qiegħda tonqos bil-mod hekk kif RECs u l-pajjiżi jarmonizzaw l-politika u r-regolamenti dwar il-komunikazzjoni, iżda riforma regolatorja mhux suffiċjenti tista' tagħmel s-servizzi tat-telekomunikazzjonijiet Afrikani l-aktar għoljin fid-dinja.

1.3. L-Afrika għandha bżonn tinvesti aktar fl-infrastruttura

Gvernijiet Afrikani u sħab fl-iżvilupp naqsu ħafna is-sehem tar-riżorsi allokati lill-infrastruttura matul is-snin disgħin. In-nefqa tal-Gvern nieżlet ħafna aktar mill-4% tal-PGD neċessarju biex tinżamm u titħaddem l-infrastruttura tiegħu, biex ma ngħidu xejn dwar l-investiment addizzjonali, 5% tal-PGD, li hemm bżonn biex tkun żviluppata. Dan ifisser li l-Afrika għandha bżonn US$ 20 biljun aktar fis-sena biex issostni tkabbir ta’ 7%.

L-appoġġ ta' l-Istati Membri għal infrastruttura u servizzi ekonomiċi naqas fl-aħħar għaxar snin, prinċipalment fit-trasport u parzjalment fl-enerġija. Bħala sehem mill-ODA totali, l-impenji waqgħu minn 19% matul il-perjodu 1985-94 għall-11% fl-1995-2004[6]. Matul l-aħħar għaxar snin il-KE żammet livell ta’ appoġġ finanzjarju lit-trasport fis-Sub-Saħara ta’ l-Afrika. Bħalissa hemm €2 500 miljun taħt id-Disa' EDF. Wara il-Laqgħa Għolja Dinjija dwar l-Iżvilupp Sostenibbli fl-2002, l-iffinanzjar ta’ l-ilma tela’ minn €475 miljun għal €975 miljun u l-iffinanzjar ta’ l-enerġija għal €230 miljun bħala riżultat tal-Faċilitajiet ta’ l-Ilma u l-Enerġija. L-allokazzjoni ta’ għajnuna KE (EDF) għall-infrastruttura fis-Sub-Saħara ta’ l-Afrika tammonta għal €3 750 miljun, 25% tad-disa’ EDF. L-għajnuna baġitarja tal-KE għall-infrastruttura fl-Afrika ta’ fuq tammonta għal €382.9 miljun fuq il-perjodu 2003-2005 (ara tabella fl-anness).

Aktar allokazzjonijiet liż-żewġ sub-reġjuni ta’ l-Afrika mill-EDF u mill-baġit ta’ l-UE se jkunu soġġetti għall-ipprogrammar fi stadju aktar tard fl-oqsfa finanzjarji rispettivi tagħhom.

1.4. Żieda fl-investiment titlob sistemi aħjar u istituzzjonijiet li jsostnuhom

1.4.1. Tagħlimiet mill-esperjenza

Valutazzjonijiet reċenti fis-setturi koperti minn din il-Komunikazzjoni jindikaw li l-politika u l-istrateġija tal-KE kellha sehem importanti fit-titjieb tal-manutenzjoni, li kien komponent essenzjali fl-approċċ settorali tal-KE. Madankollu, hemm bżonn xi jsir aktar biex tkun żgurata is-sostenibilità. It-titjib tan-netwerk tat-toroq primarji u l-portijiet marittimi kellhom impatt pożittiv fuq l-iżvilupp tal-kummerċ u fuq l-integrazzjoni ekonomika reġjonali. It-tkabbir ta’ l-aċċess għall-ilma u sanità bażiċi tejbet ħajjet in-nies. It-tagħlimiet kollha meħudin jikkonfermaw l-politika tal-KE dwar l-approċċ għas-settur kollu. Dan hu fejn l-ko-ordinazzjoni tal-Kummissjoni mal-gvernijiet Afrikani u donaturi oħra wasslet għal progress sinifikanti, li se jkompli. Għaddejja bħalissa valutazjzoni dwar l-enerġija.

1.4.2 Inħarsu 'l quddiem

L-ekonomiji Afrikani jibbenifikaw biss jekk is-servizzi mogħtija permezz ta’ infrastruttura mtejba jistgħu jkunu sostnuti. Ħafna pajjiżi Afrikani qed jittrattaw il-kwistjonijiet tas-sostenibilità – l-ispejjeż makro-ekonomiċi, fondi siguri u suffiċjenti għall-manutenzjoni, istituzzjonijiet ġestiti kummerċjalment u entitajiet b’impjegati mħarrġin u suffiċjenti, data ta’ min joqgħod fuqha msaħħa bir-riċerka, faċilitajiet aħjar tad-dwana u l-kummerċ, it-trażżin ta’ l-impatt ambjentali u l-infurzar ta’ l-oqfsa regolatorji. Għad hemm ħafna xi jsir.

Il-ħolqien ta’ oqsfa istituzzjonali u finanzjarji jieħu ż-żmien. Ftit huma l-pajjiżi li għandhom setturi ta’ l-infrastruttura li huma suffiċjentement robusti biex ikampaw mingħajr appoġġ estern. Sostenibilità reġjonali hi impossibbli mingħajr oqfsa b'saħħithom tal-pajjiż. Dawn huma essenzjali jekk l-ekonomiji Afrikani jridu jaħsdu l-benefiċċju ta’ implimentazzjoni rigoruża tal-protokolli reġjonali u ftehimiet dwar it-trasport, l-enerġija, l-ilma u l-ICT.

2. Il-viżjoni kontinentali u reġjonali ta’ l-Afrika

Il-Kapijiet ta’ l-Istat ta’ l-Unjoni Afrikana (AU) identifikaw l-paċi, is-sigurtà u t-tmexxija tajba bħala essenzjali jekk l-iżvilupp irid ikollu suċċess. Jekk l-Afrika trid tagħmel progress reali lejn il-kisba tal-MDGs hemm bżonn ta’ viżjoni kontinentali. Il-ħolqien tan-NEPAD ġie fi żmien kritiku fl-iżvilupp ta’ l-Afrika.

2.1. L-Unjoni Afrikana – sieħeb privileġġat

L-AU li qed tiżviluppa b’mod rapidu hi sieħeb privileġġat ta’ l-UE. Bil-mandat politiku tagħha fil-kontinent kollu, l-AU taffaċilita d-djalogu ma' u bejn ir-RECs, fattur li sejjem qed jikber fl-importanza tiegħu fl-interkonnessjoni ta' l-Afrika. L-AU tiżgura responsabbiltà Afrikana, tmexxi l-politika ġenerali u tiżgura l-integrità kontinentali tas-Sħubija.

2.2. NEPAD – Pjan ta’ Azzjoni għal Perjodu Qasir dwar l-Infrastruttura (i-STAP)

F’Mejju 2002 l-AU ppubblikat in-NEPAD i-STAP li jaħdem biex iċekken in-nuqqas ta' infrastruttura bħala ċ-ċavetta għall-interkonnettività, l-integrazzjoni reġjonali u it-tkabbir ekonomiku. i-STAP jistabbilixxi l-objettivi għas-setturi ta’ l-infrastruttura konnessi mal-mira ġenerali li jitnaqqas il-faqar. Jindirizza l-isfidi settorali u jidentifika tweġibiet f’erba’ oqsma: (i) faċilitazzjoni – politika u oqfsa regolatorji, (ii) l-iżvilupp tal-kapaċità, (iii) investiment fil-kapital u (iv) studji għal proġetti ġodda. i-STAP stimulat djalogu estensiv bejn in-NEPAD u d-donaturi u donaturi, inklużi l-KE u l-Istati Membri ta' l-UE, kienu involuti fl-aġġornament tiegħu. Iġib miegħu vigorożità ġdida, tħaffif ta' l-implimentazzjoni tal-politika ttestjata u prattika tajba.

2.3. Il-kisba tal-miri ta’ l-infrastruttura tan-NEPAD tfisser li l-affarijiet għandhom isiru b’mod differenti

L-ewwelnett, ifisser li aktar flus għall-infrastruttura biex tikkontribwixxi effettivmament għal tkabbir ekonomiku sostenibbli. Bejn l-2005 u l-2015 l-Afrika tas-Sub Saħara għandha bżonn bejn wieħed u ieħor 5% tal-PGD tagħha fuq investiment fl-infrastruttura u 4% aktar fuq operazzjonijiet u manutenzjoni - nefqa addizzjonali ta' US$ 20 biljun kull sena. It-tieni nett, isejjaħ għal responsabbiltà u tmexxija Afrikani rinnovati fil-proċess ta’ l-iffissar il-priojoritajiet, biex isir progress fl-integrazzjoni reġjonali, tmexxija istituzzjonali u ekonomika soda u xiri trasparenti. It-tielet nett, id-donaturi għandhom jiżviluppaw mekkaniżmi ta’ forniment li jinfluenzaw is-sorsi pubbliċi u privati tal-finanzi. Ir-raba’ nett, il-partijiet kollha għandhom jikkommettu ruħhom bis-sħiħ ma’ l-impenji li saru fid-dikjarazzjoni ta’ pariġi [7] . Il-ħames nett, involviment aktar b’saħħtu mis-settur privat hu neċessarju (il-KE qiegħda torganizza Forum dwar in-Negozju f’Novembru 2006). Is-Sħubija tfasslet biex tilqa' dawn l-isfidi.

3. L-inizjattiva ta’ l-Unjoni Ewropea: Sħubija dwar l-Infrastruttura bejn l-UE u l-Afrika

Is-Sħubija, ibbażata fuq l-Istrateġija ta’ l-UE għall-Afrika, hi t-tweġiba għall-Pjan ta’ Azzjoni dwar l-Infrastruttura tan-NEPAD ta’ l-Afrika. Tipprovdi qafas biex tissaħħaħ l-koerenza bejn l-azzjoni meħuda mill-KE u l-Istati Membri ta’ l-UE u biex jikkanalizzaw, b’mod ko-ordinat, l-isforzi tagħhom biex ikabbru l-għajnuna lill-Afrika.

3.1. Miri

Is-Sħubija għandha l-għan li tappoġġa l-programmi li jiffaċilitaw l-interkonnettività fuq livell kontinentali u reġjonali. L-operazzjonijiet tas-Sħubija se jissupplimentaw ukoll l-approċċ settorali ta' l-UE għall-infrastruttura fuq il-livell ta' pajjiż (kaxxa 1) u tgħin biex ikunu implimentati il-Ftehimiet tas-Sħubija Ekonomika (EPAs). L-approċċi se jiżguraw li l-investimenti fuq livell kontinentali u reġjonali huma koerenti ma’ l-istrateġija nazzjonali favur it-tnaqqis tal-faqar u l-infrastruttura. Din il-kumplimentarjetà se tkabbar is-sostenibilità ta’ l-operazzjonijiet fuq livelli reġjonali u tal-pajjiż. L-anness jipprovdi reviżjonijiet settorali qosra u mapep li juru l-kuriduri tat-trapost trans-Afrikani u l-interkonnessjonijiet ta’ l-elettriku, il-baċiri tax-xmajjar u n-netwerks ta’ l-ICT li se jfasslu l-operazzjonijiet tas-sħubija.

3.2. L-ambitu

Il-fokus ewlieni tas-Sħubija hi l-infrastruttura li tiżgura l-interkonnettività tul il-kontinent u r-reġjuni differenti tiegħu. Se taqsam l-infrastruttura transfruntiera, reġjonali u nazzjonali fis-sens wiesa': netwerks tat-trasport, infrastruttura ta’ l-ilma u l-enerġija u kif ukoll konnessjonijiet tan-netwerks ta’ l-ICT.

Is-Sħubija se tittratta l-kwistjonijiet tal-forniment tas-servizz li huma essenzjali biex jitneħħew l-ostakli għall-kummerċ intra- u inter-reġjonali, biex b’hekk jinħatfu l-opportunitajiet maħluqa mil-liberalizzazzjoni tas-servizzi u r-roformi tad-dwana. Il-programmi tas-Sħubija se jkunu taħlita ta’ investiment fl-infrastruttura fiżika, żvilupp istituzzjonali u żvilupp tal-kapaċità, flimkien appoġġ għall-politika, il-faċilitazzjoni u l-oqfsa regolatorji essenzjali għat-tħaddim effiċjenti ta' l-infrastruttura u l-forniment tas-servizz. Il-linji ta' gwida ta’ l-UE u internazzjonali se jkunu segwiti biex jitwettqu valutazzjonijiet profondi ta' l-impatt soċjali u ambejntali. L-aħjar prattika se tintuża biex jitnaqqsu l-impatti negattivi ambjentali u soċjali u biex ikunu promossi u rinfurzati impatti pożittivi.

Kaxxa 1: Infrastruttura – objettivi settorali It-Trasport – titnaqqas l-ispiża u titjieb il-kwalità tas-servizzi, billi jitneħħew l-ostakli ta’ l-infrastruttura u l-ostakli mhux fiżiċi għal moviment ħieles ta’ l-oġġetti u n-nies, jissaħħu l-operazzjonijiet tad-dwana, tittejjeb il-manutenzjoni ta' l-assi tat-trasport, eċċ, bit-temi li ġejjin: kuriduri tal-kummerċ mingħajr fruntieri u ostakli; toroq aħjar u aktar sikuri; servizzi tal-ferrovija kompetittivi; portijiet effiċjenti inklużi infrastrttura moderna għas-sajd u servizzi li jissosdisfaw il-ħtiġijiet sanitarji xierqa, ibħra u portijiet sikuri; u smewwiet u ajruporti sikuri u effiċjenti. Ilma u sanità – użu sostenibbli tar-riżorsi ta’ l-ilma finiti disponibbli li jissodisfaw il-bżonnijiet bażiċi ta’ l-ilma u s-sanità tal-popolazzjoni u jtejbu l-ġestjoni tar-riżorsi ta’ l-ilma integrati fuq il-livelli ta’ baċiri ta' xmajjar/ilqugħ, nazzjonali u transfruntieri. Enerġija – aċċess żviluppat bis-sħiħ u servizzi ta’ enerġija mhux għaljin għas-setturi ekonomiċi u soċjali, titjib l-oqfsa politiċi u l-kapċità istituzzjonali, u ikunu faċilitati l-investimenti essenzjali għall-ġenerazjzoni, interkonnessjoni bejn il-fruntieri, estensjoni tax-xibka u distribuzzjoni rurali. It-Teknoloġiji ta’ l-Informazzjoni u l-Komunikazjzoni – biex titnaqqas id-diviżjoni diġitali billi jkun provdut aqċċess għal ICTs mhux għaljin permezz ta’ appoġġ għal riforma regolatorja u l-iżvilupp tal-kapaċità u l-iżvilupp ta’ infrastruttura ta’ boradband pan-Afrikana u servizzi elettroniċi mhux kummerċjali kennessi ma' netwerks reġjonali u nazzjonali. |

3.3. L-Ewropa ġġib magħha għarfien espert u esperjenza min-netwerks trans-Ewropej tagħha

L-UE għandha għarfien espert estensiv li taqsmu ma’ l-Afrika mill-esperjenza tagħha tan-netwerks tras-Ewropej (TENs) għat-trasport, l-enerġija u t-telekomunikazzjoni. Dan qed iwassal għal infrastruttura ta’ interkonnettività reġjonali ta’ skala wiesa’ li tikkumplimenta l-objettivi settorali tal-pajjiżi għall-kisba ta’ tkabbir u integrazzjoni ekonomiċi. L-UE żviluppat prinċipji (ara anness) li (i) jagħtu metodoloġija rigoruża u ċara għall-identifikazzjoni ta’ assi trans-nazzjonali ewlenin u proġetti ta’ prijorità u (ii) jibnu konsensu bejn il-pajjiżi u l-imsieħba dwar l-armonizzazzjoni ta’ l-oqfsa regolatorji. Dan l-għarfien se jagħni lid-djalogu bejn l-Au u l-UE.

4. IS-SħUBIJA FIL-PRATTIKA

Is-Sħubija ġġib flimkien firxa wiesa’ ta’ istituzzjonijiet u msieħba u titlob intereazzjoni effiċjenti fuq il-livell kontinenetali, reġjonali u tal-pajjiż. L-RECs għandhom il-kostitwenzi tagħhom proprji mferrxa ħafna ġeografikament u jġibu flinkien pajjiżi fuq livelli differenti ta’ żvilupp. Xi pajjiżi huma membri tat-tnejn u, fi ftit każijiet, tat-tliet RECs differenti. Din l-adeżjoni multipla żżid mal-kumplessità ta’ l-operazzjonijiet tas-Sħubija.

4.1. Operazzjonijiet istituzzjonali

Hekk kif is-Sħubija topera fuq tliet livelli – kontinentali, reġjonali u nazzjonali – ir-regola tas-sussidjarjetà għandha tapplika fil-qafas ġenerali li jipprovdi ko-ordinazzjoni minima meħtieġa għal operazzjonijiet effiċjenti u effetttivi.

4.1.1. Livell kontinentali

AU-NEPAD perjodikament jirrevedu u jaġġornaw l-i-STAP u jikkordinaw l-identifikazzjoni tal-prijoritajiet kontinentali u reġjonali tas-Sħubija. Dawn il-prijoritajiet se jqisu l-programmi ta’ l-RECs u l-operazzjonijiet tal-pajjiż li jappoġġaw is-Sħubija kif ukoll kwalunkwe adattament tal-prinċipji ta' l-UE-TEN. AU-NEPAD u l-KE (il-kwartieti u d-Delegazzjoni ta’ l-UE fl-Etjopja) jaqsmu l-informazzjoni u r-rżultati ma’ l-Istati Membri u l-Konsorzju ta’ l-Infrastruttura għall-Afrika.

4.1.2 Livell Reġjonali

Ko-operazzjoni reġjonali bejn l-KE u l-RECs hi stabbilita tajjeb skond il-Ftehim ta' Sħubija tal-Cotonou. Tinkludi l-ħolqien ta’ l-EPAs li għandhom l-għan li jibnu swieq reġjonali u jiffaċilitaw l-kummerċ bejn u fir-reġjuni flimkien ma’ kummerċ estern ma’ sħab lil hinn mill-Afrika. Biex ikun żgurat li s-Sħubija u l-Istrateġiji Reġjonali huma kemm koerenti kif ukoll kumplimentari, il-Programmi Indikattivi Reġjonali (RIPs) għandhom jipprevedu għall-appoġġ għall-politika u l-oqsfa regolatorji li jkabbru is-sostenibilità ta' l-investimenti fiżiċi mis-Sħubija. AU-NEPAD u l-KE (il-kwartieti u d-Delegazzjoni ta’ l-UE fl-Etjopja) se jsegwu l-investimenti li jsaħħu in-netwerks u s-sistemi reġjonali.

Ko-operazzjoni reġjonali bejn l-UE (inklużi r-reġjuni l-aktar imbiegħda, speċjalment il-Gżejjer tal-Canary u r-Reunion, Madeira), il-pajjiżi ta’ l-Afrika ta’ Fuq u l-ġirien tagħhom tal-Mediterran titwettaq taħt oqsfa diversi ta' ko-operazzjoni. Dawn jinkludu s-Sħubija Ewro-Mediterranja, il-Politika Ewropea ta’ Viċinat, il-Pjanijiet ta’ Azzjoni, l-Inizjattiva Orizzont 2000 u l-komponent Mediterranju ta’ l-Inizjattiva dwar l-Ilma ta’ l-UE. Aċċess għall-finanzjament taħt dawn l-oqfsa, fil-limiti ġeografiċi relevanti tagħhom, jista’ jappoġġa l-interventi tas-Sħubija.

4.1.3. Il-livell tal-pajjiż

Il-ko-operazzjoni fl-iżvilupp fuq il-livell ta’ pajjiż jissottolinea s-suċċess u s-sostenibilità tas-Sġubija fuq il-livelli reġjonali u kontinentali. Il-ko-operazzjoni bejn l-KE u l-pajjiżi individwali ta’ l-SSA hi stabbilita tajjeb skond il-Ftehim ta' Sħubija tal-Cotonou. Bl-istess mod, il-Politika ta' Viċinat tal-KE u il-ftehimiet assoċjati jirregolaw l-ko-operazzjoni mal-pajjiżi ta' l-Afrika ta' Fuq. Il-KE u l-Istati Membri qablu li jmexxu ‘l quddiem programmi multi-annwali konġunti bbażat fuq strateġiji ta' żvilupp ta' pajjiżi sħab[8]. Il-proċess jinkludi konsultazzjoni mas-settur privat u s-soċjetà ċivili li jistgħu jipprovdu opportunitajiet għall-finanzjament mis-settur privat fis-Sħubija. Għalhekk il-Programm Indikattiv Nazzjonali (NIP) iffinanzjat mill-EDF jew mir-riżorsi baġitarji ta’ l-UE hu ffissat fl-istrateġija komuni tal-pajjiż.

Biex ikun żgurat li s-Sħubija u l-Istrateġiji Reġjonali huma kemm koerenti kif ukoll kumplimentari, il-programmi tal-pajjiż għandhom jinkludu appoġġ għall-politika settorali u miżuri li jkabbru is-sostenibilità ta' l-operazzjonijiet tas-Sħubija. AU-NEPAD se jaħdmu mill-qrib ma’ l-UE u d-Delegazzjonijiet tal-pajjiż tagħha fil-moniotraġġ ta’ l-azzjoni tal-pajjiż li jikkontrbwixxi direttament għall-objettivi tas-Sħubija.

4.2. Strumenti ta' implimentazzjoni

L-Istati Membri ta’ l-UE kkommettew irwieħhomli jżiedu l-ODA tagħhom għall-0.56% tal-GNI sa l-2010, b’nofs ta’ l-€20 biljun addizzjonali kull sena li jmorru għall-Afrika. L-Istati Membri ikkommettew irwieħhom ukoll li jtejbu l-effettività ta’ l-għajnuna – responsabbiltà, armonizzazzjoni, allineament mas-sistemi tal-pajjiż u orjentazzjoni lejn ir-riżultati. It-twettiq ta’ dawn l-impenji jitlob sfort ta’ l-UE koerenti, ikko-ordinat u kollettiv. Bl-iżvilupp ta’ viżjoni globali is-Sħubija tippovdi qafas li jkabbar l-għajnuna lill-infrastruttura u jagħti riżultati b’mod effettiv. Modi diversi dwar kif l-UE tista’ taħdem flimkien huma deskritti hawn taħt.

4.2.1. Riżorsi programmabbli ta’ l-EDF

Riżorsi reġjonali u nazzjonali: Jekk il-livell kurrenti ta’ finanzjament skond id-disa’ EDF jinżamm fl-10 EDF l-allokazzjonijiet għall-infrastruttura jistgħu jiżdiedu minn €3 750 miljun għal bejn wieħed u ieħor €5 600 miljun.

Riżorsi Intra-AKP: flimkien mal-finanzjament mobilizzat mill-Faċilitajiet ta’ l-Ilma u l-Enerġija f’appoġġ għas-Sħubija, allokazzjoni ta’ bejn wieħed u ieħor €600 miljun, li se tkun kanalizzata kif ġej:

- parti sostanzjali lill-Fond Fiduċjarju għall-proġetti ta’ investiment kapitali proposti mill-promoturi tal-proġett għall-finanzjament permezz ta’ taħlita ta’ għotjiet u self. Dawn l-għotjiet se jkunu allokati skond il-modalitajiet tal-Fond Fiduċjarju,

- parti mill-finanzjament ta’ għotja b’għotja għal (i) l-iżvilupp tal-kapaċità u appoġġ għall-inizjattiv reġjonali u programmi ta’ faċilitazzjoni u (ii) appoġġ għal taqsimiet tan-netwerks Afrikani, partikularment għat-toroq u l-ilma, li, min-natura, mhumiex xierqa għall-finanzjament tass-self.

- appoġġ ta’ għotja biex jibdew għal dawk in-netwerks u is-servizzi relatati jew partijiet tagħhom li jikkwalifikaw bħala trans-Afrikani biex itaffu finanzjament addizzjonali minn partijiet oħrajn.

4.2.2. Il-Fond Fiduċjarju ta’ l-UE għall-Infrastruttura għall-Afrika

Il-Fond Fiduċjarju hu tweġiba kollettiva ta’ l-UE u mod innovattiv biex jiko-ofinanzja (ara l-Eżami ta' Impatt) flimkine mal-EIB u l-istituzzjonijiet Ewropew u Afrikani għall-finanzjament ta' l-iżvilupp (DFIs). Id-dħul mill-għajnuna tal-Fond Fiduċjarju se kun provdut mill-KE u kwalunkwe Stat Membru ta’ l-UE li ixtieq ikkontribwixxi. L-għotjiet tal-Fond Fiduċjarju huma previsti li jkopru (i) sussidji fuq ir-rati ta’ l-interess, (ii) ko-finanzjament mal-EUB, DFIs u l-AfDB, (iii) mekkaniżmi ta’ garanzija fuq ir-riskju mhux koperti mill-istrumenti eżistenti u (iv) għotjiet għall-preparazzjoni ta’ proġett u l-iżvilupp tal-kapaċità. Għalhekk l-għotjiet ta’ l-UE se jattiraw u jgħinu self addizzjonali ta’ l-ODA u finanzjament mhux ta’ l-ODA.

Il-prinċipji ta’ responsabbiltà u l-ġestjoni tal-Fond Fiduċjarju jibnew fuq struttura “ħafifa”:

- Kumitat ta’ Tmexxija li jikkonsisti mill-AU-NEPAD, il-Kummissjoni Ewropea, l-EIB, id-donaturi u l-atturi Afrikani biex jiżguraw ir-responsabbiltà Afrikana, jipprovdu gwida politika ġenerali u jiffisssaw il-priojoritajiet,

- Kumitat Eżekuttiv tal-Ġestjoni tad-“donaturi li jikkontribwixxu” biex jeżaminaw u japprovaw il-proġetti,

- Segretarjat tas-Sħubija, presedut minn Maniġer tal-Fond Fiduċjarju, biex jappoġġa l-Kumitati tat-Tmexxija u l-Kumitat Eżekuttiv.

Il-modalitajiet li jirregolaw it-tħaddim tal-Fond Fiduċjarju se jkunu maqbulin mill-membri fondaturi. L-EIB se jkun responsabbli għall-amministrazzjoni tad-dħul u n-nefqa tal-Fond Fiduċjarju.

Il-Fond Fiduċjarju se jirċievi €60 miljun mir-riżorsi ta’ l-intra-AKP resources u l-EIB qed jippjana self ta’ bejn €220 u €260 għall-perjodu 2006-07.

4.2.3. Ko-ordinazzjoni rinfurzata u ko-finanzjament

L-istrument ta’ finanzjament maħsuba mill-KE msemmijin hawn fuq waħedhom mhumiex suffiċjenti. Għandhom ikunu supplimentati b’modi oħrajn ta' ħidma flimkien, bit-tħaffif tal-pass lejn ko-ordinazzjoni eqreb u espansjoni tal-ko-finanzjament konġunt, finanzjament maqsum u opportunitajiet paralleli ta' finanzjament.

4.3. L-Operazzjonijiet

F’konformità ma’ l-iSTAP ta’ l-AU-NEPAD, l-operazzjonijiet tas-Sħubija se jinqasmu f’żewġ kategoriji wesgħin: (i) faċilitazzjoni u studji – is-softwer u (ii) investiment fiżiku – l-ħardwer

4.3.1. Fuq il-livell kontinentali u reġjonali

Is-Sħubija se tappoġġa:

- l-ippjanar u l-prijoritizzazzjoni ta’ l-investimenti ta’ l-infrastruttura li jistabbilixxu l-pjanijiet ewlenin reġjonali u kontinentali għat-trasport, l-enerġija u n-netwerks ICT u l-organizzazzjonijiet tal-baċiri tax-xmajjar,

- l-attivitajiet ta’ l-infrastruttura li jagħtu l-benefiċċji mill-opportunitajiet tal-kummerċ miftuħa mill-EPAs, jistrieħu fuq l-implimentazzjoni ta’ l-EPA u jisfruttaw l-opportunitajiet mil-liberalizzazzjoni tas-servizzi u ir-riforma tad-dwana,

- l-iżvilupp tal-kapaċità fl-istituzzjonijiet l-korpi tar-riċerka Afrikani kontinenetali u reġjonali (li jikkumplimentaw appoġġ provdut mill-RIPs u mis-Seba’ Programm ta’ Qafas ta’ l-RTD) – AU, AMCOW, korpi ministerjali dwar l-enerġija, SSATP, awtoritajiet regolatorji kontinenetali u reġjonali, l-awtoritajiet ta’ l-avjazzjoni ċivili, ġabriet ta’ enerġija reġjonali, eċċ.,

- armonizzazzjoni u implimentazzjoni tal-ftehimiet internazzjonali u reġjonali, regolamenti u standards għall-modi kollha ta’ trasport, l-enerġija, l-ilma u l-ICT.

- riforma regolatorja reġjonali biex tħeġġeġ l-investiment privat mir-riżorsi domestiċi u barranin għall-forniment effiċjenti ta’ l-infrastruttura u s-servizzi,

- miżuri biex itejbu l-arja (e.ż. b’appoġġ lil proġetti ta’ COSCAP) u s-sigurtà u s-sikurezza marittima u l-protezzjoni ta’ l-ambjent u l-estensjoni tas-servizzi tan-navigazzjoni bis-satellita Ewropej (GALILEO) u l-programm ta’ modernizzazzjoni tal-maniġment tat-traffiku ta’ l-Ajru ta’ l-UE u l-inizjattiva dwar Is-smewwiet Uniċi ta’ Ewropej,

- ċaqliq ħieles, sigur u sikur tat-traffiku tat-tranżitu tul il-kuriduri ta' l-Afrika u bejn il-fruntieri,

- attivitajiet preparatorji għall-investiment essenzjali u l-istudji tal-finanzi għal proġetti reġjonali u kontinentali tas-Sħubija,

- forniment ta’ konnessjonijiet nieqsa u infrastruttura bejn il-fruntieri fit-trasport trans-Afrikan, enerġija u kuriduri ta’ l-ICT u netwerks (ibbażati fuq il-prinċipji ta’ aċċess miftuħ),

- ġestjoni sostenibbli u ekwu tal-baċir ta’ l-ilma u r-riżorsi li jaqsmu l-fruntieri.

4.3.2. Fuq il-livell tal-pajjiż

Is-Sħubija:

- żżid l-effiċjenza ta’ l-oqfsa nazzjonali leġiżlattivi u regolatorji u tappoġġa l-integrazzjoni u l-implimentazzjoni tal-ftehimiet internazzjonali u reġjonali f’dawn l-oqfsa,

- tiffinanzja studji dwar, u investimenti fit-trasport (inklużi miżuri li standars internazzjonali ta’ sikurezza u sigurtà), enerġija u proġetti ta’ l-ICT ta’ relevanza nazzjonali li jiffurmaw parti mill-kuriduri u netwerks trans-Afrikani,

- tiżgura li s-sostenibilità tal-kuriduri u n-netwerks trans-Afrikani jitqiesu mill-programmi tal-pajjiż,

- tikkapitalizza fuq konnessjonijiet ma’ l-Inizjattiva dwar l-Enerġija ta’ l-UE biex tiffaċilita l-aċċess għal servizzi tta’ enerġija moderni u mhux għaljin bis-saħħa ta’ użu aktar effiċjenti tar-riżorsi, estensjonijiet tax-xibka u użu usa' ta' riżorsi rinnovabbli, kif ukoll konnessjonijiet mas-Sħubija dwar l-Enerġija Rinnovabbli u l-Effiċjenza u l-Koalizzjoni dwar l-Enerġija Rinnovabbli ta’ Johannesburg.

- tikkapitalizza fuq konnessjonijiet ma’ l-Inizjattiva dwar l-Ilma ta’ l-UE biex tiżgura aċċess għall-proviżjoni ta' l-ilma fil-qafas ta' maniġment sostenibbli u integrat tar-riżorsi ta' l-ilma.

4.4. Ko-ordinazzjoni ma’ l-Istati Membri, organi internazzjonali oħra u inizjattivi

Is-suċċess tas-Sħubija jitlob ko-ordinazzjoni effettiva, immexxija mill-AU-NEPAD, bejn l-KE u l-Istati Membri ta’ l-UE u l-atturi kollha.

4.4.1. Ko-ordinazzjoni ma’ l-Istati Membri ta' l-UE

Il-KE se tmexxi l-ko-ordinazzjoni ta’ l-appoġġ ta' l-UE bbażat fuq gruppi ta' ko-ordinazzjoni stabbiliti tajjeb li jeżistu fuq il-livell settarju u mekkaniżmi ta' ko-ordinazzjoni eżistenti fuq livelli ta' pajjiż u reġjonali.

4.4.2. Ko-ordinazzjoni ma’ organi u inizjattivi internazzjonali oħra

Il-ko-ordinazzjoni bejn l-UE, l-EIB u l-Bank Dinji, il-mexxejja fil-finanzjament ta’ l-infrstruttura, hi żviluppata tajjeb; qed isir ħafna progress ma' l-AfDB. Bl-istess mod, il-KE se tkompli bil-ko-operazzoni tagħha ma l-Organizzazzjoni Internazzjonali ta’ l-Avjazzjoni Ċivili (ICAO) u l-Unjoni Internazzjonali tat-Telekomunikazzjonijiet (ITU).

Il-ko-ordinazzjoni mal-Konsorzju ta’ l-Infrastruttura għall-Afrika, forum ta’ appoġġ li ma jiffinanzjax l-infrastruttura iżda ifittex li ikabbar l-investiment fl-infrastruttura, hi faċilitata bl-adeżjoni ta’ l-UE. Il-KE tagħti lill-Konsorzju vuċi qawwija ta’ l-UE u viżjoni komuni u strateġija.

4.5. Strateġija għal Sħubija sostenibbli

L-esperjenza tal-KE u t-tagħlimiet meħuda mill-valutazzjoni jenfasizzaw li ir-responsabbiltà benefiċjarja u sostenibilità tas-settur jibqgħu ċ-ċwievet għal infrastruttura sostenibbli. Mingħajr manutenzjoni f’waqtha u adegwata tan-netwerks ta’ l-infrastruttura s-servizzi lil-utenti u l-benefiċjarji jitolbu ma tkunx provduta b’mod sostenibbbli. Is-Sħubija:

- tfittex l-impenn tal-gvern fuq il-livell politiku biex jimplimenta tmexxija tajba fis-setturi ta’ l-infrastruttura kollha,

- tappoġġa strateġiji fis-setturi kollha fuq il-livell tal-pajjiż li jintegraw l-infrastruttura u s-servizzi relatati,

- tibni koerenza bejn l-attivitajiet tal-pajjiż, reġjonali u kontinentali fis-Sħubija,

- tippromovi l-parteċipazzjoni tas-settur privat, fejn hu xieraq permess ta' sħubija privata-pubblika,

- tappoġġa infrastruttura li sikura, xierqa, tirrispondi l-bżonnijiet tal-bnedmin, u tirrispetta r-riżultati ta’ l-eżamijiet ta’ impatt soċjali u ambjentali.

Fl-iżvilupp tas-Sħubija, il-KE tipproponi li tiffaċilita serje ta’ avvenimenti ma’ l-Unjoni Afrikana, ir-RECs, l-Istati Membri ta’ l-UE u sħab internazzjonali għall-iżvilupp biex tħaddem is-Sħubija. Dawn se jinkludu:

- laqgħa kontinentali ta’ livell għoli fl-Afrika biex tvara s-Sħubija,

- serje ta’ laqgħat ta’ livell għoli u settarji fuq il-livell reġjonali biex jgħinu jidentifikaw l-operazzjonijiet tas-Sħubija.

B’mod ġenerali, il-Kummissjoni se tkompli bid-djalogu tagħha mas-sħab Afrikani u l-imsieħba Ewropej fuq il-livelli kollha fil-formulazzjoni tal-prijoritajiet tas-Sħubija, l-operazzjonijiet tagħha u l-implimentazzjoni tagħhom.

ANNEX

Sectoral overview, methodology and maps of the trans-African transport corridors, the continental electricity interconnections and river basins and ICT networks

This annex gives a brief overview of each sector - transport, energy, water and ICT. It also outlines the basis for a dialogue between the EU and the AU for moving the Partnership forward and delivering what Africa expects from its infrastructure and services. To facilitate the dialogue between stakeholders, maps of continental and regional transport, energy and ICT networks and of river basins are included. The maps are based on AU-NEPAD strategies and reflect the current progress on the dialogue; they should be regarded as indicative.

A methodology for prioritising EU operations

To guide the decision-making process on setting priorities for EU operations within the EU-Africa Partnership, a two-stage process is summarised below. The process is adapted from the methodology used for extending the trans-European networks. It will be further developed in the course of the ongoing EU-AU dialogue to reflect the AU-NEPAD criteria and will be used as a framework for reaching a consensus between stakeholders.

The first stage is to identify the major trans-African corridors and networks connecting countries, which are most relevant to international exchanges and traffic and to strengthening regional integration and continental cohesion. Various criteria will be jointly agreed under two main categories – institutional and functional.

The second stage is to prioritise projects on the selected trans-African corridors and networks. This process will cover a full project appraisal, which will include, inter alia:

- a firm commitment by the region, country or countries and entities concerned to implement the project, including a clear demonstration of the benefits of the project and how it responds to different demands, a realistic and affordable financing plan and an implementation timetable,

- an analysis of the benefits of the project in terms of its economic and financial, institutional, environmental and social impact. These analyses will take account of the ways in which projects contribute to economic efficiency, environmental sustainability, improved safety and security, etc.

Partnership operations to improve infrastructure along trans-African corridors and networks alone are not enough. These operations need to be supplemented by “facilitation measures” that ensure efficient movement of traffic along corridors and networks and minimum delays at borders. Such measures include, inter alia, harmonisation of transit transport and trade regulations and procedures, technical and administrative interoperability, implementation of new technologies, such as traffic management and electricity grid systems, and measures to improve safety and security. The EU operations will include a balance of physical investment and facilitation measures.

The EU-Africa Partnership on Infrastructure: Transport

A brief overview

Physical links in Africa fall well short of expectations and the infrastructure and services network remains under-developed. Road transport is the dominant mode, accounting for 90% of inter-urban transport.

Roads linking sub-regions are modest and road conditions vary from region to region, and within regions and countries. Road conditions are improving in many African countries where the practices advocated by the Sub-Saharan African Transport Policy Programme (SSATP)[9] are being implemented. Sustaining these road conditions demands more revenue for maintenance. Although sufficient revenue may exist in just a few countries, the current revenue of road maintenance funds covers approximately 40% of network needs. The increasing number of semi-autonomous road agencies is encouraging and makes increasing government and donor investments more sustainable. Such changes are leading to increased private sector involvement in roads. Progress over the past 10 years has been commendable, particularly given the fragile economy of many African countries. Governments must, however, redouble their efforts to increase their network maintenance.

Road maintenance remains a major problem for many African road agencies. Deferred maintenance has resulted in the loss of one third of the capital invested in the SSA road network. Maintenance budgets also remain an easy target for governments seeking savings; these are usually false economies. Deteriorating road conditions impose extra costs on road users in the form of increased vehicle operating costs or higher freight tariffs and passenger fares in the case of commercial operations. The EU has developed a sectoral approach[10] to tackle the issue of road maintenance.

Experience has defined fundamental principles for the EU’s sectoral approach to sustainable road maintenance. These are:

- Involving stakeholders: as most maintenance revenue is raised from user charges, road users and beneficiaries are demanding to know where and how funds are spent. Stakeholders are increasingly involved in prioritising road maintenance in country poverty reduction strategies and sit on the boards of road funds and road agencies.

- Securing finance: road funds are proving an effective means of managing maintenance revenue, largely based on a fuel maintenance levy. Where road funds operate under “2nd generation” principles the traditional objections of fiscal earmarking tend to disappear.

- Restructuring institutions: road networks have to be managed as a business. This means defining clear responsibilities between the many road organisations, introducing effective management information, accounting and auditing systems, using the private sector for service and works delivery and paying professionals adequately. One effective way to address all these issues is to create autonomous road agencies outside the civil service.

- Updating standards and regulations: ensuring that road networks cause minimum negative social and environmental impact, responding to the different needs of men and women, taking account of HIV/AIDS, improving road safety and controlling vehicle overloading call for updating and effectively enforcing standards and regulations.

Shipping is served by some 60 major ports with facilities ranging from conventional berths to container, oil and bulk cargo (see the map of the trans-African transport corridors). Many ports struggle to offer competitive services due to inadequate equipment and complex regulations. Similary, fishing ports, which could play a major role in the economic development of coastal countries, very often have inadequate facilities and services for handling local and foreign vessels and infrastructure for the storage and processing of fish products. Where the private sector is involved in concessions for container terminals and port management, port services are becoming more efficient, e.g. in Maputo, Dar es Salaam and Mombasa.

Africa is endowed with many lakes and rivers, yet few countries integrate inland waterway transport into a regional system. Exceptions are the countries surrounding Lake Victoria and Lake Tanganyika and the countries along the River Congo.

Railway coverage is sparse and where it exists density is low at 3 kilometres per 1 000 square kilometres (see the map of African railways). Africa’s railways date back to the colonial period and were built to harness the mineral and agricultural resources of the continent. No regional or continental African railways network exists. Railways are expensive to construct and equip, require a higher degree of management skills and must be highly used if they are to be financially viable. Railway services are slowly being concessioned to the private sector. This is a long process involving a lengthy lead time to financial closure. It also demands considerable restructuring of the railway corporations, involving retrenchment with its consequent negative social impact. Returns to the concessionaire are only gradually emerging and should be considered a medium- and long-term prospect.

Air transport has not fully benefited from the adoption of the Yamoussoukro Decision in 1999, which pushes liberalisation of access to the region’s air transport market. SADC is the most integrated region. Full implementation of the Decision is hampered by poor competition rules and protectionist measures for national airlines. Similarly, efficient air services are hindered by limited investment in airport infrastructure, which often needs modernisation if it is to meet international safety and security standards.

Overall transport infrastructure quality is slowly improving but is not always matched by simplification and harmonisation of operational issues. These include cumbersome customs and administrative procedures, illegal roadblocks, conflicting regional trade arrangements, etc. Consequently, transport costs are high, averaging 14% of the value of all exports compared with 8.6% for all developing countries, and higher still for many landlocked countries – Malawi (56%), Chad (52%) and Rwanda (48%).

A basis for dialogue: interconnecting trans-African corridors and regional networks

Reducing the cost and improving the quality of transport services is central to the transport-related part of EU development policy. This means removing infrastructure and non-physical barriers to free movement of goods, services and people, improving maintenance of transport assets, etc. and pursuing the sectoral objectives of trade corridors without borders and barriers; better and safer roads; competitive rail services; efficient ports and safe seas and ports; and safe, secure skies and airports. And, complementary investment in communciations infastructure will lead to a more efficient flow of transit traffic along corridors and regional networks. EU programmes support these objectives and match the focus on interconnectivity at regional and continental level.

The trans-African corridors and the regional road network linking the corridors to country networks are shown on the map below. It is mainly based on work carried out by the African Development Bank in coordination with the RECs and includes information received from other donors. The continental corridors and regional networks reflect a vision of a more interconnected and better integrated Africa, which matches AU-NEPAD’s aspirations.

Eight main trans-African corridors are identified, extending over a total length of 37 500 km of which 14 300 km are in poor condition or “missing links”. There is also an extensive network of regional roads linking capitals, production areas, etc. that form an integral part of the trans-African corridors. Further analysis is required to establish the condition of this regional network and to prioritise its investment needs. The eight main trans-African corridors are:

Dakar–N’Djamena: The “trans-Sahelian highway” is approximately 4 500 km long and crosses seven countries: Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon and Chad. Almost 35% of the corridor is in poor condition, especially stretches in Senegal and Mali.

The Nouackchott–Lagos corridor is approximately 4 500 km long and crosses all twelve coastal countries between Mauritania and Nigeria. It provides the most direct road connection between the capitals of the countries. Approximately 28% of the corridor is in poor condition.

The Khartoum–Djibouti corridor is approximately 1 900 km long and links Sudan and Ethiopia to the port of Djibouti. Road conditions vary from good to fair, except for two stretches of approximately 330 km in Djibouti and Ethiopia that are in poor condition.

The Lagos–Mombasa corridor is approximately 6 300 km long and connects the ports of West Africa (Nigeria and Cameroon) and East Africa (Mombasa), providing the landlocked Central African countries with access to the coast. Road conditions are poor along almost 53% of the corridor, especially in the Central African Republic, DRC and Uganda.

The Cairo–Gaborone corridor is the major trans-African corridor, approximately 8 900 km long. Road conditions vary along the corridor, with almost 33% in poor condition.

The N’Djamena–Windhoek corridor is approximately 6 200 km long and links seven countries (Chad, Cameroon, CAR, Congo, DR Congo, Angola and Namibia). Approximately 45% of the corridor is in poor condition.

The Beira-Lobito corridor is approximately 3 500 km long and connects the port of Beira with Harare and continues to Lusaka. It links four countries: Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Angola. Approximately 45% of the corridor is in poor condition, particularly in Angola.

The Dar Es Salaam–Kigali corridor - the East-African central corridor - is 1 700 km long and connects the landlocked countries of Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda to the port of Dar Es Salaam. Road conditions vary, with about 500 km, especially in Tanzania, in poor condition.

The map does not show the well-developed corridors in South Africa nor the corridors linking South Africa to its neighbours, e.g. the Johannesburg-Maputo corridor. For North Africa, which has a better developed network, the map shows only the Cairo-Agadir corridor.

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The EU-Africa Partnership on Infrastructure: Energy

A brief overview

In Africa access to modern energy services remains very low. Less than 20% of Africa’s population has access to electricity and for them power rationing and cuts are part of the daily routine. This inhibits job creation, industrial investment and entrepreneurial development, and impedes production of competitive goods and services. Wider use of modern, sustainable and affordable energy services will improve the efficiency of health and education services, reduce deforestation and ease the daily burden that women bear in Africa. The EU Energy Initiative (EUEI) launched at the WSSD provides the policy framework for the EC and EU Member States to channel their efforts towards increasing access to modern energy services. The 9th EDF ACP-EU Energy Facility (€220 million) recently launched a call for proposals that will be able to co finance investments in rural energy access, to support governance and management in the energy sector and to facilitate investments in cross-border energy interconnections and cooperation. These EU operations are also complemented by actions carried out under the JREC initiative.

Africa’s substantial indigenous energy resources, fossil fuels (oil, gas and coal) and renewable sources (hydro, biomass, biofuel, wind, geothermal and solar) are inefficiently used. Most fossil fuel is exported. The rising world market price of oil has a marked negative impact on the GDP of oil-importing countries, particularly the LDCs. Renewable resources are under-used and only 7% of Africa’s hydropower potential is converted into electricity.

Increased national and cross-border energy cooperation and trade is essential to improve reliability, affordability and access. It is acknowledged that the traditional approach of limiting energy planning and service provision to nation states has a negative effect on development of the energy sector in Africa. Nation-based planning is sub-optimal in several respects: (a) the geography of energy supply options does not necessarily correspond to political boundaries, since the cleanest and cheapest energy source may lie across national borders; (b) national energy markets are often too small to justify the investments needed to harness certain energy supply options; (c) the difficulties involved in the delivery of energy services in remote areas due to weak planning frameworks and regulations; (d) local and cross-border energy supply often allows diversification of energy sources – a key component in energy security.

Steps are being taken to integrate regional energy systems. Progress is being made on improving power distribution through regional power pools, interconnected electricity grids and plans for regional power development. The Southern African and West African Power Pools are increasing the transit capacity for electricity interchange between the countries concerned. Central and East Africa have established their power pools. These are just the first steps, and much more needs to be done.

Similarly, the RECs are promoting cooperation on the development of gas and hydropower resources. Some cross-border schemes already exist, for example, the Kariba South power station between Zambia and Zimbabwe and the Ruzizi hydroelectric station between Burundi, the DRC and Rwanda. Other hydropower generating facilities have bilateral agreements that play a key role in cross-border trade in electricity. At the same time individual countries are continuing to develop renewable energy sources for decentralised generation of electricity, which can be suitable solutions for increasing access in rural areas.

The EU’s recent Green Paper on energy[11] sees interconnection of energy systems as one of the priority areas. Other priorities include the international promotion of the rational use of energy and renewable energy, which requires dialogue with between producer, and consumer countries. Interconnectivity would help Europe to diversify its sources of supply, while upgraded and new infrastructure would improve the security of energy supplies. Within the context of the Partnership, concrete measures are needed to develop energy partnerships with producer and transit countries. The Partnership could also improve the development of energy and transport facilities (especially in ports) of producer countries that allows more efficient use of their resources and attracts foreign investment.

Within the thematic programme of “Environment and sustainable management of natural resources, including energy” the EUEI, JREC and the future COOPENER programme will be able to support the EU-Africa Partnership on Infrastructure. The COOPENER programme could provide institutional support for improving access to sustainable energy services and actions aimed at improving energy security, e.g. by stimulating regional cooperation between countries, the private sector and non-governmental organisations for promoting regional interconnectivity.

A basis for dialogue: a focus on interconnectivity

The map shows the main electricity interconnections identified by NEPAD and RECs. It will guide the dialogue to identify priority action and the financial set-up.

NEPAD i-STAP refers to the power pools as the entities responsible for implementing the projects. The power pools include national utilities of member countries that are responsible for optimising use of regional energy resources and country-to-country support during an energy crisis.

The power pools are based on a multitude of legal documents, such as inter-governmental, inter-utility agreements, agreements between operating members and operating guidelines. The present situation with the power pools in the continent is as follows:

North African region: the Maghreb Union, COMELEC, which includes Mauritania, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya.

Southern African region : Southern Africa Power Pool (SAPP) - DRC, Angola, Zambia, Tanzania, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, Lesotho, Swaziland and South Africa.

West African region : West Africa Power Pool (WAPP) - Senegal, Guinea Bissau, Gambia, Guinea Conakry, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria and Cape Verde.

Central African region: Central Africa Power Pool (CAPP) - Cameroon, Gabon, Chad, CAR, DRC, Equatorial Guinea, Sao Tome, Congo and Angola. Applications from Rwanda and Burundi are being processed.

East African region : Eastern Africa Power Pool (EAPP) - Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda and Burundi. Participation by Eritrea, Somalia and Tanzania is on hold.

Among these power pools, SAPP and WAPP are more mature than CAPP and EAPP, which are very recent. This is reflected on the map, which shows that interconnections in the WAPP and SAPP regions are more clearly defined than in the EAPP and CAPP regions. Some of the interconnections shown on the map are being implemented or are near financial closure.

NEPAD i-STAP envisages support for:

- projects of continental relevance - identified by a bold, dotted line,

- regional power pools - identified by a lighter dotted line,

- capacity-building activities, especially for power pools, NEPAD, AUC, AFREC and regulatory institutions, some of which will be financed by the EUEI Energy Facility.

NEPAD has also identified the Nigeria-Algeria gas pipeline as a priority, together with other oil and gas projects, such as the West Africa gas pipeline (under construction), the Kenya-Uganda oil pipeline and the Tunisia-Libya gas pipeline.

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The EU-Africa Partnership on Infrastructure: Water

A brief overview

Water resources are unevenly distributed and erratic rainfall exacerbates equitable access. Many African countries suffer large seasonal rainfall fluctuations and periodic cycles of drought and flood. Climate change will exacerbate the extremes of variability of water availability. As a result, the population living in water-scarce countries in Africa will rise to over 400 million by 2010, mainly located in North Africa. These levels of water scarcity constrain food production, ecosystem protection and economic development, particularly among the poor.

Most of Africa’s water resources are shared and cross borders. Transboundary river basins need joint management for conservation and equitable resource sharing. Integrated water resource management provides such a framework and will also promote peace and security in transboundary water basins. This framework is crucial as some countries’ resources originate beyond their borders, for example Mauritania (95%) and Botswana (94%). There are some 60 international river and lake basins in Africa, although fewer than 10 have the cooperation agreements necessary for sustainable management and equitable sharing of resources between riparian states. One notable example of cooperative water resource management is the Nile Basin Initiative, a partnership between the Nile riparian states led by the Council of Ministers of Water Affairs. It aims to achieve sustained socio-economic development through equitable use of the common Nile Basin water resources. Creating new river basin organisations and revitalising existing organisations is one priority of the African Ministerial Council on Water in its efforts to deliver the African Water Vision for 2025.

More effective management of water resources is needed to improve water security and the affordability of water services at country level and to contribute effectively to the MDGs. Today over 300 million people – some 42% of Africa’s population - still have no access to safe water. Similarly access to basic sanitation is denied to 60% of the population. Without clean water and good sanitation, diarrhoea and other water-borne diseases will multiply. Food security and economic productivity will be threatened and HIV/AIDS treatment will be less effective. Africa has potential for hydropower production of about 1.4 million GWh per year. Currently, however, despite the immense possibilities, hydropower generation represents less than 5 percent of the electricity generated. Water for industrial use is also very low and accounts for only 6 percent of water used. Integrated water resource management at a basin level provides the framework for managing these competing demands for water.

Making better use of scarce resources through better water management, efficient irrigation, reducing leakage and waste and avoiding pollution are all necessary in order to reap the estimated economic benefit of US$ 22 billion when Africa achieves its water and sanitation MDGs. More efficient, more sustainable water use and basin management should also contribute to the goals of halting or reversing the current loss of natural resources and biodiversity by 2015.

Therefore, strong political will and financial commitment to joint management, development and harnessing of transboundary water will contribute to reducing poverty at local level. Better use of water at country level will enable national authorities to expand access to water and sanitation at more affordable prices. This, however, depends on balancing investments between infrastructure provision, governance and providing national and local authorities with the capacity effectively to manage and monitor water resources and service provision.

A basis for dialogue - transboundary water management in Africa

There is a need to get riparian states to cooperate on the use of the resources of shared rivers and ground water basins. This involves (i) preparing water resources management plans that address the needs of all users and respect the needs of the environment, and (ii) developing the infrastructure (dams, irrigation systems, water supplies, hydro-electric power) that is needed to reduce vulnerability to droughts, to manage floods better, to ensure more water, more food and more electricity in a way that takes account of the needs of the river system itself. This means laying a strong foundation for cooperative action and for future investment projects to follow the decision-making framework of the World Commission on Dams Report of 2000.

Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) is central to EC development policy related to water, to the EU Water Initiative (EUWI) and the Africa-EU Partnership on water affairs and sanitation launched at the WSSD. As a result of the EUWI, €10 million from 9th EDF is being used to support transboundary management in five basins in Africa (Niger, Volta, Lake Chad, Kagera and Orange/Senqu). The 9th EDF ACP-EU Water Facility (€500 million) is also supporting transboundary water management and the establishment and reinforcement of river basin authorities as well as investments at the national and local level. These Water Facility operations are complementary to investments by the National Indicative Programmes. Funds from the ACP-EU Water Facility have been allocated to the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI - €18 million), the Niger and the Senegal (€2 million each). The EC is thereby supporting regional water management in specific fields:

- Establishment of and support for the “Shared Vision Programme” in the Nile and the Niger. This provides the basic framework for sustainable use of shared water resources and is a prerequisite for sound investment in infrastructure.

- Support for existing basin authorities (Senegal, Orange/Senqu and Lake Chad) and for the establishment of new ones (Volta).

- Multi-purpose basin development addressing the different water uses, as part of the NBI.

- In the field of disaster preparedness, support for a flood preparedness programme in the Eastern Nile for Ethiopia and Sudan, as part of the NBI.

- Knowledge and monitoring of water resources for better management. The EC is supporting the HYCOS Programme (Hydrological Cycle Observing System) and the establishment of a pan-African water information system.

Building on this substantial and varied support already provided by the EC for transboundary basin management in Africa, further opportunities will be developed to respond to AU-NEPAD/REC priorities. Funds from the ACP-EU Water Facility will support the start-up phase of this process. Initially, the focus must be on basins prioritised by NEPAD in its 2005 STAP for Transboundary Water Management (Niger, Senegal, Congo, Lake Chad, Nile, Okavango and Zambezi) and on expanding support for other basins, particularly:

- Establish and support for “shared vision programmes” as the framework for sustainable use of shared water resources and a prerequisite for sound investment in infrastructure.

- Establish and support for basin authorities and building their capacities, as a necessary foundation for sustainable infrastructure development.

- Contributions to project preparation and implementation to complement existing instruments (within the AfDB, NEPAD, SADC, etc.).

The programme of action will be developed and implemented in close collaboration with African institutions (AU-NEPAD, AMCOW, RECs, AfDB) and other donors (such as Germany which has undertaken a programme to initiate support for the Congo basin).

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The EU-Africa Partnership on Infrastructure: ICT

A brief overview

The uptake of ICTs in Sub-Saharan Africa has been hampered by the non-existence of appropriate regulatory frameworks and the inadequacy of infrastructure. The number of fixed telephone lines is minimal and the waiting period for a telephone connection may be several years. Fortunately mobile telephony and pre-paid cards are solving many of Africa’s communication problems. Additionally, Africa is wasting US$400 million each year by intra-African telecom traffic that transits outside Africa because of a lack of interconnections and clearing houses. Large bandwidth at reasonable costs remains an issue for landlocked countries. Building on the broad experience of the EU and following the 2nd phase of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), the Communication “Towards a Global Partnership on the Information Society: Follow up to the Tunis Phase of the WSIS” of April 2006 - paved the way for addressing the digital divide in developing regions, notably Africa.

A basis for dialogue: regulatory reform, broadband and non-commercial e-application investment

Support to Regulatory Reform: It is widely recognised that the private sector can play a major role in ICTs. Even in Africa where many incumbent operators are still state-owned, several governments have privatized their fixed-telecom operator. Moreover, the mobile telecom operators are mainly in the hands of the private sector, local or foreign. To attract the private sector a stable legal environment and an appropriate regulatory framework are needed.

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Figure 1: ICT competition This map compares monopolistic or competitive practices in services such as local, domestic long-distance, international, wireless local loop and mobile. Source: ITU | Figure 2: Independent regulators Full autonomy implies national regulatory authorities that are independent from political and financial pressures and that are staffed by appropriately trained professionals. Source: ITU |

The boundaries, colours, denomination and any other information shown on these maps do not imply, on the part of the European Commission, any judgment on the legal status of any territory, or any endorsement or acceptance of such boundaries. |

Therefore, while ensuring that the social aspects of liberalisation are considered, it is recommended that action be directed towards:

- establishing and consolidating national and regional ICT strategies, which support poverty reduction strategies;

- creating national and regional regulatory frameworks for electronic communications that ensure a level playing field and facilitate competition whereby competing firms are assured of equal access to technology and fair pricing;

- establishing independent national regulatory authorities.

Activities could consist of assistance measures to manage the transition to liberalised telecommunications markets in order to facilitate network interconnection and interoperability of services, while fostering the reduction of telecommunication costs and the introduction of new technologies. This would include training activities, technical assistance and sharing of good practices for regional policy makers and regulators.

To implement these activities, the Commission will favour a sub-regional approach in order to take benefit of an economy of scale and to promote the emergence of broader markets.

Investment in technologically neutral broadband infrastructure: There are presently several broadband technologies options for rolling out a broadband infrastructure on the African continent: wireless technologies, including satellite, wire-line technologies (e.g. optical fibre networks, but also power line communications) and a combination of these.

Support to the deployment of a broadband infrastructure at pan-African level should be based on a technologically neutral approach with choices between the different options relying on current and planned ICT infrastructures and considerations related to deployability, bandwidth, coverage and cost.

Principal backbones infrastructure, existing and planned, in Africa

EASSy : Submarine cable running along the African East Coast that would close the ring around Africa.

COMTEL : this consortium is entirely composed of incumbent telco covering 21 countries, reflecting the COMESA membership basis of the organisation.

Central African ring : This is a network infrastructure proposed by Celtel, that would link a range of countries including: Kenya, Malawi, Uganda, Tanzania and Bukoba in Eastern DRC.

COM-7 : This route proposed by Com-Africa connects seven countries in East and Southern Africa. It has no incumbent telco involvement.

West-East-West linkages E2-E3-E4-E5 : The trans-Sahel backbone linking Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, Sudan, and Uganda . A redundant ring could also be created by linking with the Central African backbone by continuing South through Chad via Cameroon to Gabon, taking advantage of the Cameroun-Chad fibre backbone that has been laid along the oil pipeline.

There is a consensus that in circumstances where the market does not deliver, state-intervention should not be excluded. Such situations include (i) the rural sector, (ii) trans-border communications; (iii) post-conflict situations, (iv) networks that are operated by the governments for internal usage (in principal to be avoided), and (v) broadband networks that are operated according to the “Open Access Principle.”

Non-commercial e-services: The objective would be to promote the usage of the underlying ICT infrastructures thus encouraging further investment through the development of e-applications and services of high societal impact such as education, health, agriculture, environment and e-government.

The development of projects in these domains should exploit synergies with EU programmes and initiatives such as trans-European Networks for Telecommunications, TEN-Telecom, i2010, the EU Research and Development Framework Programmes, the Interchange of Data between Administrations (IDABC) Programme, or the recent established co-operation between ESA and DEV to promote telemedicine through satellites. Examples of these are:

- Research and Education Networks: the aim would be to improve the connectivity of African national research and education networks and to interconnect them with the EU’s GÉANT2. This would integrate African researchers into global research communities and limit the “brain drain”.

- The recently established collaboration between the ESA and DEV to promote telemedicine through satellites should be furthered. A task force composed of the relevant African Organizations, the WHO, EC and ESA has been set up to identify a framework of appropriate actions for a telemedicine program in sub-Saharan Africa. The TTF activities will be complemented by an analysis of the cost benefits of the implementation and by a study of system architecture and related costs of a pan-African satellite-based telemedicine.

- e-government between the AUC and its Member countries in a similar way to the EU’s Interchange of Data between Administrations programme,

- the NEPAD e-Schools Initiative that will connect 600,000 African schools to the Internet and provide better education to the millions of children,

- the adaptation to the needs of Africa of the products and services developed by the EU Research and Development Framework Programmes in the field of e-learning, telemedicine and e-government.

EC commitments to transport, energy, water and sanitation, and ICT in Africa (€) Sub Saharan Africa commitments are EDF, North Africa commitments are EU budget resources |

2003 | 2004 | 2005 | Total |

Transport Sub Saharan Africa North Africa | 628,000,00096,000,000, | 401,400,000 43,000,000 | 807,400,000 19,000,000 | 1,836,800,000 158,000,000 |

Energy Sub Saharan Africa North Africa | 500,000 - | 6,300,000 8,600,000 | 4,000,000* - | 10,800,000 8,600,000 |

Water and sanitation Sub Saharan Africa North Africa | 169,200,000 31,700,000 | 137,900,000 77,900,000 | 313,900,000** 102,700,000 | 621,000,000 212,300,000 |

ICT Sub Saharan Africa North Africa | 11,100,000 - | 21,000,000 4,000,000 | - - | 32,100,000 4,000,000 |

Total Sub Saharan Africa North Africa Grand total - Africa | 808,800,000 127,700,000 936,500,000 | 566,600,000 133,500,000 700,100,000 | 1,125,300,000 121,700,000 1,247,000,000 | 2,500,700,000 382,900,000 2,883,600,000 |

Source: EuropeAid Cooperation Office

Notes

* The ACP-EC Council of Ministers decided on 25 June 2005 to set up the Energy Facility. The Facility will commit €220 million by the end of 2007. The call for proposals has been launched.

** The ACP-EC Water Facility has resources of €500 million. During 2004-2005, €125 million was committed and the remaining €375 million will be committed by the end of 2007.

For Sub Saharan Africa: commitments are exclusively EDF programmable resources (and the Water Facility).

For North Africa: commitments are exclusively EU budget resources.

Abbreviations

ACP | Africa, Caribbean, Pacific |

AfDB | African Development Bank |

AFREC | African Energy Commission |

AIDS | Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome |

AMCOW | African Ministerial Council on Water |

AU | African Union |

AUC | African Union Commission |

CAPP | Central Africa Power Pool |

CAR | Central African Republic |

COMELEC | Comité Maghrebin de l’Electricité |

COMESA | Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa |

COOPENER | Cooperation Energy Programme |

COSCAP | Cooperative Development of Operational Safety and Continuing Airworthiness Project |

DAC | Development Assistance Committee (of the OECD) |

DFI | Development Financing Institutions |

DRC | Democratic Republic of Congo |

EAPP | Eastern Africa Power Pool |

EASSy | Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System |

EC | European Community |

EDF | European Development Fund |

EIB | European Investment Bank |

EPA | Economic Partnership Agreement |

ESA | European Space Agency |

EU | European Union |

EUEI | EU Energy Initiative |

EUWI | EU Water Initiative |

FPA | Fishery Partnership Agreements |

GDP | Gross Domestic Product |

GNI | Gross National Income |

HIV | Human Immunodeficiency Virus |

HYCOS | Hydrological Cycle Observing System |

ICAO | International Civil Aviation Organisation |

ICT | Information and Communications Technology |

IDABC | Interoperable Delivery of European eGovernment Services to public Administrations, Businesses and Citizens |

i-STAP | Infrastructure Short Term Action Plan (of NEPAD) |

ITU | International Telecommunications Union |

IWRM | Integrated Water Resources Management |

JREC | Johannesburg Renewable Energy Coalition |

LDC | Least Developed Countries |

MDGs | Millennium Development Goals |

NBI | Nile Basin Initiative |

NEPAD | New Partnership for Africa’s Development |

NIP | National Indicative Programme |

ODA | Official Development Assistance |

OECD | Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development |

REC | Regional Economic Community |

REEP | Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership |

RIP | Regional Indicative Programme |

SADC | Southern African Development Community |

SAPP | Southern Africa Power Pool |

SESAR | Single European Sky ATM Research |

SSATP | Sub-Saharan Africa Transport Programme |

STAP | Short Term Action Plan (of NEPAD) |

TEN | Trans-European Networks |

TTF | Technology Transfer Facility |

WAPP | West Africa Power Pool |

WHO | World Health Organisation |

WSSD | World Summit on Sustainable Development |

[1] il-Kunsill Ewropew: L-interkonnessjoni ta’ l-Afrika: Lejn Sħubija Strateġika – 15961/05 (Press 367) tad-19.12.2005

[2] In-=Netwerk DAC dwar it-Tnaqqis tal-Faqar: Prinċipji ta' Gwida dwar l-użu ta' l-infrastruttura biex jitnaqqas il-faqar, Diċembru 2005

[3] Tista’ l-Afrika Tirbaħ is-seklu 21, il-Bank Dinji, April 2000

[4] Valutazzjoni ta’ l-Integrazzjoni Reġjonali fl-Afrika, Kummissjoni Ekonomika għall-Afrika, 2004

[5] COM(2006) 181 Lejn Sħubija Strateġika Globali fis-Soċjetà ta’ l-Informazzjoni: Segwitu tal-Fażi ta’ Tunis tal-Laqgħa Għolja Dinjija dwar is-Soċjetà ta’ l-Informazzjoni”

[6] Donor Atlas 2006, Il-Kummissjoni Ewropea-OECD

[7] Id-Dikjarazzjoni ta' Pariġi dwar l-Effettività ta' l-Għajnuna, Frar 2005.

[8] Il-Konklużjonijiet tal-Kunsill dwar il-Finanzjament għall-Iżvilupp u l-Effettività ta’ l-Għajnuna; jitwettaq aktar, aħjar u aktar malajr – GAREC – 11 ta’ April 2006, il-Lussemburgu

[9] SSATP includes 32 SSA countries and the RECs. Its Long Term Development Plan (2004-07) is supported by EC (major donor), France, Denmark, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, UNECA and World Bank.

[10] COM(2000) 422: Promoting sustainable transport in development cooperation

[11] COM(2006) 105.