Commission staff working document - Annexes to the Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions The EU, Africa and China: Towards trilateral dialogue and cooperation {COM(2008)654}
Date: 2008-10-17
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Africa, China, EU relations, cooperation policy, development policy, environmental policy

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COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels, 17.10.2008 
SEC(2008)2641 final 

COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT 

Annexes to the 

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN 
PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL 
COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS 

The EU, Africa and China: Towards trilateral dialogue and cooperation 

{COM(2008)654} 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS 

Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 3 

Annex 1: Cooperation on peace and security............................................................................. 4 

Annex 2: Partnership on infrastructure ...................................................................................... 6 

Annex 3: Partnership on the environment and sustainable management of resources .............. 9 

Annex 4: Partnership on food security and agricultural production ........................................ 12 

Annex 5: List of Acronyms ...................................................................................................... 15 

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Introduction 

The renewed strong interest of both Europe and China in Africa has given rise to questions 
and expectations regarding the way Europe and China will engage with each other on and in 
Africa. While there is arguably an element of competition, there is also scope for cooperation. 

BOX 1: EU and China in Africa at a glance: 

EU-Africa 

China-Africa 

Trade 

Total 2007: € 232 billion. 

Total 2007: € 53.6 billion  

imports 

23%  of  EU 
from  Africa  are 
manufactured  goods  and  11%  are  food  and 
agricultural  products.  The  EU  is  the  biggest 
export  market 
products. 
Approximately  85%  of  Africa’s  exports  of 
cotton,  fruit  and  vegetables  are  imported  by 
the EU. 

for  African 

In 2007 the EU imported oil from Africa with 
a value of € 62.5 billion, out of which € 18.9 
billion  are  from  Sub-Saharan  Africa  (30%). 
Top  partners  for  EU  are:  Libya,  Algeria  and 
Nigeria.  

African Least Development Countries benefit 
from  duty  free  market  access  for  everything 
but arms.  

71.8%  of  all  imports  from  Africa  are  fuels 
and oils.  

In 2007 China imported 32% of its oil from 
Africa  with  a  value  of  €  19  billion,  out  of 
which  €  17  billion  are  from  Sub-Saharan 
Africa  (90%).  Top  partners  for  China  are: 
Angola, Sudan, Congo. 

China abolished tariffs on 450 types of goods 
from  29  Least  Development  Countries  in 
Africa. 

FDI 

EU  Foreign  Direct  Investments  to  Africa  in 
2005 and 2006 amounted to € 28.124 billion. 

ODA total 

In  2006  the  EU  (Member  States  and  the 
European  Commission)  collectively  gave 
its  bilateral,  regionally 
together  62%  of 
allocated  aid  to  Africa  and  provided  more 
than half of the global aid flows to the region.  

EU  DAC  members'  debt  relief  to  Africa  in 
2006: € 9.7 billion. 

Peace  keeping 
operations 

The  EU  has  set  up  a  new  instrument  to 
finance  peacekeeping  operations,  the  African 
Peace  Facility,  with  an  amount  of  €  300 
million  for  2004-07  and  a  further  €  300 
million for 2008-2010. 

According  to  estimates,  the  accumulated 
investment  by  Chinese  firms  doubled  from 
USD 6.27 billion in 2005 to USD 12 billion 
in 2006. 

China  does  not  publish  aid  figures.  Its  aid 
comparable to the DAC definition of ODA is 
estimated at about USD 1.5 billion p.a. 

China has cancelled USD 1.4 billion in debt 
owed by 31 African countries in 2006. 

There  are  currently  over  1,300  Chinese 
troops  participating 
the  UN 
all 
peacekeeping missions in Africa. 

in 

The  EU,  under  the  European  Security  and 
8 
has 
Defence  Policy, 
peacekeeping  operations  in  Africa  at  the 
request  of  the  UN,  the  AU  or  African 
countries. 

carried 

out 

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Annex 1: Cooperation on peace and security 

Trilateral  cooperation  could  enhance  mutual  awareness  and  understanding  of  each  partner's 
priorities  and  activities  and  discuss  the  effectiveness  of  concepts  of  preventive  diplomacy, 
crisis  management,  post-conflict  reconstruction,  human  security,  climate  and  food  security 
and other security threats as they evolve. 

BOX 2: Peace and security 

What are Africans doing? 

Since 2002, the AU has gradually emerged as a major political and security actor, engaging in concrete actions 
in the area of conflict prevention, management and resolution. 

As a structural, long-term response to peace and security challenges on the continent, a comprehensive African 
Peace  and  Security  Architecture  (APSA)  is  being  developed.  The  APSA  consists  of  several  elements  and 
structures,  namely  an  AU  Peace  and  Security  Council  (PSC),  the  central  AU  decision-making  organ,  a 
Continental Early Warning System (CEWS) and a Panel of the Wise, with a mandate for conflict prevention and 
resolution,  as  well  as  an  African  Standby  Force  (ASF)  to  be  deployed  in  operations  to  support  peace.  The 
African sub-regional organisations are pillars of the overall security architecture of the AU and contribute to the 
AU’s efforts through appropriate structures and initiatives.  

To  date,  significant  progress  has  been  achieved  in  building  the  APSA.  The  AU  PSC  has  become  an  active 
decision-making body. The ASF and CEWS, though still in their early days, are moving forward, and the Panel 
of  the  Wise  is  now  in  place.  African-owned  mediation  efforts  are  on  the  rise  and  the  AU  is  becoming 
increasingly active in the area of post-conflict stabilisation. 

In parallel with political initiatives for the prevention and resolution of conflicts, a number of African-led peace 
support  operations  have  been  deployed,  often  in  a  very  hostile  natural  environment  and  sometimes  in  a  very 
sensitive political context (e.g. AMIS, AMISOM). 

What is the EU doing? 

Over the past years, the role of the EU has increased with the expansion of the EU’s global crisis management 
activities and EU’s ability to draw on a wide range of instruments at all stages of the conflict cycle (CSPF/ESDP, 
APF,  Instrument  of  Stability,  humanitarian  aid,  FED).  Nowadays,  the  EU  is  pursuing  a  holistic  approach  to 
security  in  Africa  combining  short  term  military  and  civilian  interventions  (crisis  management  instruments, 
diplomacy) with mid- to long term stabilisation and development measures. The EU has agreed to allocate €300 
million under the 10th EDF for the period 2008-2010 to the African Peace Facility (established in 2004 and until 
2007  supported  with  €440  million  under  the  9 th  EDF),  with  a  view  to  financing  African-led  peace  support 
operations,  including  multi-dimensional  operations  with  civilian  as  well  as  military  components,  the  APSA 
Capacity, including early warning, planning, conduct and control of operations, notably through training for the 
African  Stand-by  Forces  and  the  Regional  Brigades.  Dialogues  and  cooperation  between  the  AU  and  EU 
furthermore  span  a  wide  range  of  subjects  and  are  supported  through  a  number  of  financial  instruments: 
conventional  disarmament  objectives  and  activities  are  regularly  planned  and  supported.  Counter-terrorism 
initiatives  are  being  pursued,  with  support  for  the  African  Centre  for  the  Study  and  Research  on  Terrorism  
(CAERT),  Electoral  Observation  Missions,  transitional  justice  initiatives,  mediation,  continental  and  regional 
early warning systems, security–development links and coherence in AU and EU relations with the RECs. The 
EU's operational engagement in Africa under ESDP goes back to 2003 and 8 major ESDP missions have been 
carried out or are ongoing in Africa. 

What is China doing? 

From  1999,  China  has  successively  dispatched  over  7 000  peacekeepers,  comprising  military  observers, 
engineering troops and civil police, to take part in 21 peace-keeping missions across the world, more than the 
rest of the UN Security Council’s permanent five members combined. Currently, China is the thirteenth-largest 
contributor  of  peacekeeping  troops.  Recently,  of  the  1 666  Chinese  peacekeepers,  1 322  were  deployed  on  all 
seven ongoing UN African missions. 

China’s  assessment  rate  for  its  contribution  towards  UN  peacekeeping  has  increased  from  0.995  percent  for 
2000,  1.540  percent  for  2001-2003  and  2.053  percent  for  2004-2006  to  2.667  percent  for  2007-2009,  which 
represents a 168 percent increase in seven years. In 2006 China was the ninth largest financial contributor among 
all  191  UN  member  states  and  the  largest  of  all  developing  member  states  of  the  UN.  Nevertheless,  it  still 
contributed less to peacekeeping operations financially compared to the other P-5 members except for Russia. 

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In recent years, as China has gradually gained experience as a peacekeeper and a peacekeeping trainer, it is no 
longer  purely  a  ‘participant’  in  various  peace  keeping-related  international  activities,  but  also  an  active 
‘organiser.’ 

What could the three partners do together? 

–  Enhance dialogue on challenges to peace and security, in particular through trilateral consultations on issues 
on  the  agenda of  the UNSC and  the AU  PSC,  such  as  crisis  situations, peace operations,  and post-conflict 
stabilisation and reconstruction in Africa. 

–  Establish  a  structured  trilateral  dialogue  on  peace-building,  post-conflict  resolution,  crisis  prevention  and 
responses, human  security,  and  security  implications  of  the  vulnerability  of  Africa  to  climate  change.  This 
structure may entail official or expert meetings and regular or ad hoc consultations of Special Representatives 
as appropriate. 

–  Coordinate  support  provided  by  the  EU  and  China  to  various  elements  of  the  African  Peace  and  Security 

Architecture, through enhanced coordination of support, capacity building and training.  

–  Identify  predictable  funding  for  African-led  peace  support  operations,  for  instance  through  (i)  enhanced 
coordination  of  support  provided  to  Africa’s  peace-keeping  efforts;  (ii)  possible  cooperation  with  China 
under  the  African  Peace  Facility,  (iii)  consultation/coordination  with  a  view  to  putting  in  place,  under 
Chapter VIII of the UN Charter, a UN mechanism to provide sustainable, flexible and predictable funding for 
peace operations undertaken by the AU or African sub-regional organisations. 

Modalities: 

Trilateral dialogue can be organised on the basis of existing modalities (e.g. troikas). Ad hoc 
meetings  among  the  Heads  of  Delegations  of  the  EU,  special  representatives  of  the  EU 
(EUSR)  and  China  for  specific  crisis  regions,  their  AU  or  regional  counterparts  and,  where 
possible,  the  UN  could  be  envisaged.  Modalities  for  political  dialogue  at  ministerial  level 
might  need  to  be  agreed.  To  this  end  a  trilateral  think-tank  dialogue  could  make  a  valuable 
contribution,  discussing  important  issues  in  depth  and  in  a  structured  way,  especially  if 
attended by officials from the three sides. Exchanges of officials would also contribute to this 
objective.  This  proposal  for  a  more  regular  and  structured  trilateral  dialogue  —  notably  on 
peace  and  security  matters  —  will  be  further  developed  in  a  Joint  Paper  with  the  General 
Secretariat of the Council. 

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Annex 2: Partnership on infrastructure 

Africa's infrastructure needs are huge. The EU-Africa Partnership on Infrastructure based on 
the EU Strategy for Africa and on Africa’s Infrastructure Action Plan has defined an approach 
by  mapping  and  identifying  the  interconnectivity  needs  at  continental,  regional  and  country 
level.  China  also  has  a  comprehensive  strategy  for  investing  in  Africa  and  for  supporting 
infrastructure  development,  mainly  in  hydropower  generation  and  railways,  but  also  in  the 
roads  and  water  sectors.  China  Development  Bank  attended  the  launch  of  the  EU-Africa 
Partnership  on  Infrastructure  in  Addis  Ababa,  October  2007  and  an  initial  working  session 
with the EC was held. This may lead to closer institutional cooperation between the EC and 
CDB.  

1.  Trilateral  coordination  could  develop  synergies  and  enhance 
implementation 
effectiveness  for  all  partners.  Successful  outcomes  from  this  dialogue  would  enhance  the 
interconnectivity of Africa, focusing on continental and regional networks, including closing 
the missing links within countries and regions. 

BOX 3: Infrastructure — Working together to facilitate Africa’s interconnectivity 

What is Africa doing? 

In 2002, the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), in cooperation with the African Development 
Bank, elaborated a comprehensive programme for developing Africa’s infrastructure, which consists mainly of a 
Short Term Action Plan (STAP) and a NEPAD Infrastructure Project Preparation Facility (NEPAD-IPPF, 2003). 
The STAP provides the foundation for a coherent and structured approach to develop regional and continental 
infrastructure  interconnections.  Its  main  activities  comprise  capacity  building  programmes,  facilitation  and 
investment projects, and studies. Within the STAP, several flagship projects have been identified as top priorities 
for their continental importance and impact. These include Inga I & II Rehabilitation, West and Southern Africa 
Power Pools, West Africa Gas Pipeline, West Africa Road Transport and Transit Programme, East Africa Trade 
and  Transport  Facilitation  Project,  Central  Africa  (CEMAC)  trade  and  transport  facilitation  project,  Regional 
Communications Infrastructure Programme, and Nile and Senegal River Basin Development. The estimated total 
investment  cost  of  the  projects  included  in  the  STAP  is  US  $8  billion,  half  of  which  is  to  be  financed  by  the 
private sector. The NEPAD-IPPF helps African countries, Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and related 
institutions  to  prepare  high-quality  and  viable  regional  infrastructure  projects  and  programmes;  it  supports  the 
creation of an enabling environment for private sector participation in infrastructure. 

What is the EU doing? 

The EU is supporting these African initiatives through the Africa-EU infrastructure partnership. EC investment 
in infrastructure is a development priority in 35 sub-Saharan Africa countries, and together with the EU-Africa 
Infrastructure  Trust  Fund  is  expected  to  reach  €5.6  billion  over  the  period  2008-2013.  Apart  from  the  Trust 
Fund, almost all investment is in the road sector, with a substantial part devoted to the Trans-African Highway 
Corridors.  The  Trust  Fund  is  currently  dominated  by  investment  in  the  energy  sector  —  generation  and 
interconnection. 

What is China doing? 

China is investing in more than 35 African countries, with the biggest recipients being Nigeria, Angola, DRC, 
Sudan  and  Ethiopia.  Hydropower  generation  and  railways  are  the  major  investment  sectors,  amounting  to 
approximately US$3.3 billion and US$4 billion, respectively, over 2001 to 2007. The ICT sector has benefited 
from  Chinese  equipment  valued  at  US$3  billion,  while  investment  in  the  roads  and  water  sectors  is  lower  at 
US$700 million. 

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What could the three do together? 

–  Integrating China into the continental and regional dialogue pursued by the AUC and the RECs with the EC 

and the EU Member States, as well as cooperating with the EU-Africa partnership on infrastructure. 

–  Working with China at regional level to identify priority interventions along the multi-modal Trans-African 

Transport Corridors (roads, railways and ports) and the electricity and telecommunication networks. 

–  Developing informal joint technical teams for sharing policies, strategies and good practices for enhancing 

the corridor approach along continental and regional corridors and a sectoral approach at country level.  

–  Building on ongoing infrastructure cooperation in various countries. 

–  considering 

to  establish 

the  future  a  procedural  system  allowing  cooperation  on  specific 
programmes/projects  (especially  on  the  infrastructure  sector)  and  thus  the  possibility  of  parallel  and  joint 
financing of large infrastructure projects. 

in 

BOX 4: Inga Dam: Securing Africa's energy supply 

Only  7%  of  the  hydropower  potential  in  Africa  is  exploited.  The  basin  of  the  Congo  River  has  a  hydropower 
potential of almost 40 000 MW, but currently only 1 775 MW of this generating capacity is used (Inga I and II). 
Exploiting this potential is one of the key objectives of the AUC-NEPAD energy agenda for meeting the needs 
of continental interconnections and substantially improving the security of Africa’s energy supply.  

Studies on the further development of Inga show the technical viability of Inga III and Grand Inga. Inga III is 
expected to provide enough excess generating capacity for a new regional electricity export scheme. Grand Inga 
could become the largest generating facility in Africa, delivering 39 000 MW.  

Within the EU-Africa Infrastructure and Energy Partnerships and the Infrastructure Consortium for Africa, the 
EU  is  ready  to  host  discussions  on  steps  to  realise  this  mega-project.  China  and  key  African  partners  that 
participated  at  the  launch  of  the  Infrastructure  Partnership  in  Addis  Ababa,  October  2007,  could  explore  and 
develop tripartite cooperation for implementing the Inga project. 

At  country  level,  trilateral  cooperation  would  involve  working  through  a  targeted  dialogue 
with Chinese ministerial bodies and investment banks. It would involve establishing informal 
joint  technical  teams  for  sharing  policies,  strategies  and  good  practices.  The  dialogue  could 
start by identifying common interests and problems and then go on to address the issues that 
underpin  the  sustainability  of  investments  and  the  benefits  brought  about  by  improved 
infrastructure and services.  

Such an exercise would facilitate closer trilateral integration within a wider country-led effort 
to  coordinate  development  partners  in  support  of  the  principles  of  the  Paris  Declaration  on 
Aid  Effectiveness  —  ownership,  alignment  and  harmonisation.  Overall,  developing  closer 
working practices between African institutions, the EC, China and other donors will benefit 
African partners by reducing transaction costs and improving the effective delivery of support 
to infrastructure. 

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Modalities 

The  EU  and  China  should  conduct  their  dialogue  with  Africa  within  the  Infrastructure 
Consortium for Africa and agree joint activities through, for instance, an exchange of letters 
with  one  or  more  interested  organisations.  Consultations  should  also  be  held  at  country  or 
regional level as appropriate. 

Exchanges of officials between headquarters and workshops with experts of each side could 
increase knowledge of working methods, approaches and procedures. 

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Annex 3: Partnership on the environment and sustainable management of resources  

Ensuring the governance  of  natural  resources is one of the key challenges faced by African 
countries and the international community in the 21st century. Demand for Africa’s resources 
represents an opportunity for Africa but for mining or other activities to have a positive effect 
on sustainable development the activities themselves should be carried out in a socially and 
environmentally responsible manner. Revenues to government from these activities should be 
provided  in  a  transparent  manner  and  used  for  long-term  development.  Sharing  experiences 
and best practices between established and new players may raise awareness for these issues 
in  the  corporate  world  where  most  of  the  problems  arise  (cf.  in  this  context  the  work  of 
OHADA: Traité relatif à l'harmonisation du droit des affaires en Afrique).  

In  the  Joint  Africa-EU  Strategy,  Africa  and  the  EU  agreed  to  enhance  cooperation  in  the 
context of international initiatives to counter illicit trade and to promote the transparent and 
equitable  management  of  natural  resources,  such  as  the  Kimberley  certification  process,  the 
Forest  Law  Enforcement  Governance  and  Trade  (FLEGT)  action  plan  and  the  Extractive 
Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI). The EU recognised the importance of EITI, to which 
16  African  countries  have  applied  for  validation.  Extractive  and  mining  industries,  a  major 
source of pollution need environmental safeguards. 

Therefore,  the  multilateral  initiatives  mentioned in  the  Africa-EU  joint  strategy,  such  as  the 
Kimberley Process, EITI and FLEGT, could be used as starting points for trilateral dialogue 
and cooperation in those African countries that have subscribed to them. 

BOX 5: Sustainable management of natural resources: forestry 

Africa,  the  EU  and  China  have  committed  themselves  politically  to  ensuring  forest  law  enforcement  and 
governance and combating illegal logging, notably through the Yaoundé Ministerial Declaration on Forest Law 
Enforcement and Governance (FLEG) and recent EU-China summit statements. In 2007 China hosted an EU-
China conference on FLEG, which included representatives from a number of African countries.  

As the main markets for African timber, the EU and China can help support African efforts towards sustainable 
forest management and the effective regulation of Africa's forests through demand side measures such as public 
procurement policies as well as through development and private sector cooperation.  

Possible collaborative actions could include: 

–  Support for national processes in African countries to clarify what is legal timber  

–  Support for triangular cooperation between private sector timber producers in Africa, processors in China and 

retailers in EU. 

–  Technical  support  for  government  agencies,  communities  and  the  private  sector  to  improve  forest 

management and reforestation 

–  The  Congo  Basin  Forest  Partnership,  which  brings  together  the  major  actors  in  forest  conservation  and 

management in Central Africa, could have a useful role to play in such collaboration. 

–  Assess  how  Chinese  government  guidelines  and  regulations,  Chinese  companies'  participation  in  the  UN 
Global Compact and work in the ISO could be supported in partnership with European and African players to 
improve the development impact of corporate actors and help African countries to enforce regulations. 

Sustainable  management  of  energy  resources  is  another  important  topic  for  cooperation  at 
international  level,  notably  in  the  context  of  climate  change.  Renewable  energies  could 
therefore become a focus for trilateral dialogue and cooperation. As one of the major global 
emitters  of  greenhouse  gases,  China  is  beginning  to  take  a  more  proactive  role  in  global 
climate  change  negotiations,  for  example  under  the  UN  Framework  Convention  on  Climate 
Change (UNFCCC). Recently, Chinese officials have pointed not only to domestic mitigation 
and adaptation actions, but also to capacity building that China is supporting in Africa on e.g. 
the  Kyoto  protocol’s  Clean  Development  Mechanism  (CDM).  The  European  Commission, 

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alongside  the  EU  Member  States,  is  itself  active  in  mitigation  and  adaptation  capacity 
building in Africa, in line with broader development objectives. The Global Climate Change 
Alliance  proposal  allows  for  learning  lessons  three  ways  on  e.g.  mainstreaming  adaptation 
into  aid  spending  and  on  adaption  practices.  Given  the  importance  of  building  long-term 
national adaptive capacity, particularly in the countries most vulnerable to climate change, the 
Commission  proposes  to  explore  the  possibility  of  initiating  joint  work  with  the  AUC  and 
China, particularly in Africa, for capacity building purposes, on climate change and renewable 
energy, possibly including the CDM as it currently stands, and also under a post-2012 global 
climate change agreement. The European Commission has recently launched an initiative for 
technology  transfer  and  innovative  financing  of  investment  for  clean  energy  in  developing 
countries: the Global Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Fund (GEEREF). The focus 
will  be  on  encouraging  small  projects  generally  ignored  by  commercial  investors,  with  a 
special  emphasis  on  serving  the  needs  of  sub-Saharan  Africa.  The  possibilities  for  China  to 
contribute to this initiative should be explored. 

Gas flaring reduction is also an important part of the efforts to reduce greenhouse gases and to 
expand access to a cleaner energy source. The European Commission has recently joined the 
Gas  Flaring  Initiative  of  the  World  Bank,  in  which  many  EU  companies  as  well  as  African 
countries  and  companies  are  participating.  To  this  end,  it  is  important  to  seek  ways  of 
involving China in this initiative. 

Another promising area for cooperation could be the fisheries sector. The EU and China, as 
major global actors in the fisheries sector, have a joint responsibility for strengthening control, 
research  and  stock  management  capacities  in  cooperation  with  the  African  coastal  states 
concerned. Based on the principle of African ownership, China, African countries and the EU 
could cooperate to enable these countries to ensure the sustainability of fish stocks and other 
living  aquatic  resources  in  their  Exclusive  Economic  Zones  and  in  the  waters  of  relevant 
Regional  Fisheries  Management  Organisations  (RFMOs)  to  which  they  are  contracting 
parties.  Such  dialogue  and  cooperation  should  be  embedded  in  relevant  international 
conventions and agreements such as the UN Fish Stocks Agreement (UNFSA), and partners 
who  have  not  yet  ratified  and  implemented  them  should  be  encouraged  to  do  so.  The  three 
partners  should  enhance  dialogue  and  cooperation  to  enhance  the  sustainability  of  aquatic 
resources under the UN Fish Stocks Agreement and within Regional Fisheries Management 
Organisations. 

Under  the  Basel  Convention  on  the  Control  of  Trans-boundary  Movements  of  Hazardous 
Waste  and  their  Disposal,  Parties  including  the  EU,  China  and  African  countries  work 
together  in  the  protection  of  human  health  and  the  environment  against  the  adverse  effects 
resulting  from  the  generation,  management,  trans-boundary  movements  and  disposal  of 
hazardous and other wastes. 

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Modalities 

Depending  on  the  sector,  there  are  various  African,  bi-  or  multilateral  frameworks  for  a 
general policy dialogue. Existing bilateral dialogues, such as on FLEGT or Kimberley, should 
be  continued  and  expanded  where  appropriate.  Pilot  activities  need  to  be  country-led  and 
should therefore be discussed between the three partners at country level. 

Exchanges of officials between headquarters and workshops with experts of each side could 
increase knowledge of working methods, approaches and procedures.  

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Annex 4: Partnership on food security and agricultural production 

The  importance  of  agriculture,  including  livestock,  in  African  economies  cannot  be 
overemphasised — in many countries 70-90 percent of the population depends on agriculture 
for  their  livelihoods.  Nearly  40  percent  of  Africa’s  export  earnings  come  from  agriculture, 
which also provides the source for 75 percent of manufacturing value addition, and creates 60 
percent  of  employment.  Nevertheless,  due  to  low  productivity  and  dependency  on  rain-fed 
agriculture, food insecurity and malnutrition are highly prevalent in rural areas, particularly in 
sub-Saharan Africa. Agriculture has a pivotal role in economic growth, and is directly linked 
to social development, food security, and sustainable resource management.  

The recent increase in commodity prices raises both opportunities and challenges for African 
countries: while many commodity-exporting countries have witnessed a favourable impact on 
their  economies,  net  food-  and  oil-importing  countries  have  been  negatively  affected, 
particularly  the  poorest  households.  The  effects  on  the  poor  in  these  countries  threaten  to 
reverse  the  progress  made  towards  achieving  the  Millennium  Development  Goals.  At  the 
same  time,  high  food  prices  create  opportunities  for  African  agriculture,  which  could  be 
captured through an improved policy framework, enhanced investment and additional external 
support and advice. It is in this area that the Partnership on food security and agriculture could 
play a useful role.  

For  Africa  to  increase  its  internal  food  trade  and  access  to  international  markets  for 
agricultural  and  livestock  products,  compliance  with  SPS  (Sanitary  and  Phytosanitary) 
measures  will  be  essential.  Nevertheless,  many  African  countries  find  it  difficult  to  comply 
with  SPS  measures  due  to  limited  human,  technical,  institutional  and  financial  capacities, 
along with inadequate harmonisation of standards.  

BOX 6: Food security and agricultural production  

What is Africa doing? 

To  foster  agricultural  development,  African  countries,  through  the  AU  and  NEPAD,  have  launched  the 
Comprehensive  Africa  Agriculture  Development  Programme  (CAADP).  Moreover,  within  this  CAADP 
framework, an overall AU vision has emerged on what should be achieved in agriculture by 2015. 

The  CAADP  initiative  takes  a  continent-wide  view,  but  builds  on  national  and  regional  plans  for  the 
development  of  agriculture.  It  contains  a  set  of  key  principles  and  targets  to:  (i)  guide  country  strategies  and 
investment programmes; (ii) enable regional peer learning and review; and (iii) facilitate greater alignment and 
harmonisation of development efforts. For development partners, the CAADP offers significant opportunities for 
progress on the Paris Declaration. 

CAADP  is  developing  four  thematic  ‘pillars’  to  serve  as  policy  frameworks  for  national  and  regional 
programmes: (i) land and water management, (ii) infrastructure and markets, (iii) food security and nutrition, and 
(iv)  agricultural  research  and  innovation.  CAADP  programmes  at  national  and  regional  levels  will  follow  a 
specific  ‘round  table’  process  that  will  result  in  country  and  regional  ‘CAADP  Compacts’,  covering  policy 
reforms and guiding public and private investment and intervention. 

What is the EU doing? 

Over the years, the EC has been a strong partner for Africa’s agriculture and has supported numerous projects 
and programmes on agricultural research, production, disease control, management of resources, trade assistance 
and  food  security.  Moreover,  special  programmes  exist  for  sugar  and  bananas,  while  other  commodities  like 
cotton,  coffee  and  cocoa  also  receive  substantial  assistance.  The  EC  has  also  contributed  significantly  to  the 
eradication of rinderpest on the continent as well as to the strengthening of veterinary control systems. The main 
support instruments are the Food Security Thematic Programme (FSTP) and the European Development Fund 
(EDF). The FSTP (2007-2010) has significant budgets for agricultural research (€230 million, of which a large 
part  will  benefit  Africa),  food  security  information  (€65  million)  and  a  special  allocation  for  Africa  (€100 
million)  focusing  on  policy  development  &  institutional  strengthening,  natural  resource  management  and  risk 
management. Agriculture and rural development are making a come-back in the strategies for EDF assistance to 
African countries in the coming years: 23 African countries have selected agriculture, food security and/or rural 

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development as focal sectors in their cooperation for the period 2008-2013. Overall, this is likely to lead to an 
average level of assistance of well above €400 million per year.  

What is China doing? 

New  commitments  have  been  made  on  agricultural  and  rural  development,  including  agricultural  cooperation, 
such  as  agro-infrastructure  development,  assistance  with  farming  and  breeding,  the  exchange  and  transfer  of 
applied agricultural technology, technical assistance and skills transfer, and assistance with the manufacturing of 
farm machinery and the processing of farm produce. Furthermore, by late 2009, more than 100 senior Chinese 
agricultural  experts  are  to  be  sent  to  Africa,  10  agricultural  demonstration  sites  will  be  completed  on  the 
continent,  and  100  rural  schools  are  to  be  constructed  across  the  countries  that  have  diplomatic  relations  with 
China. Next year’s FOCAC ministerial meeting will focus on agricultural production. 

What are China and the EU doing together? 

The  EC  and  China  have  long  been  engaged  in  dialogue  on  the  establishment  of  a  ‘knowledge-based 
bioeconomy’  (KBBE) and on related research  addressing  agriculture, forestry, fisheries,  aquaculture,  food  and 
biotechnologies.  Moreover, Chinese  partners (the  Chinese  Academy of Agricultural Sciences and the National 
Centre for Biotechnology Development) have participated in EU-funded research projects on food quality and 
safety. The signature of a Joint Statement on research fields for the development of joint actions expands on this 
cooperation.  Several  research  fields  have  been  identified,  including  animal,  plant  and  fish  breeding,  animal 
diseases  and  control,  and  food  safety.  The  EU  and  China,  in  coordination  with  other  major  global  actors  and 
regional organisations, have also joined forces and contributed to building an international partnership to fight 
avian and pandemic influenza. 

What can the three do together? 

–  Enhance agricultural research and innovation, strengthen institutional cooperation and coordination between 
national  agricultural  research  systems  (NARS)  and  regional  and  international  research  programmes  and 
promote the use in Africa of the results of joint research activities on e.g.: animal, plant and fish breeding; 
animal diseases and control; animal drugs, vaccines and vaccination strategies; and food safety. 

–  Enhance dialogue and cooperation to support sustainable agriculture and resource use in Africa. 

Trilateral cooperation could enhance Africa’s agricultural productivity and production levels, 
and  contribute  to  greater  food  security  in  a  sustainable  manner,  with  due  attention  to  the 
socio-economic,  environmental  and  health  aspects  of  food  production.  The  Commission 
proposes  to  explore  synergies  that  could  be  obtained  from  trilateral  cooperation  in: 
agricultural  research  and  innovation,  with  a  special  emphasis  on  food  staples  (including 
cereals); control of animal diseases; food safety with a special emphasis on definition of and 
compliance with SPS standards. Trilateral cooperation will need to be framed in the context of 
the  Comprehensive  African  Agricultural  Development  Programme  (CAADP),  which  forms 
the long-term agenda for Africa’s agricultural development. 

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Modalities 

Creation  of  joint  research  and  innovation  networks  integrated  with  African  structures  and 
initiatives (e.g. linked with the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa — FARA).  

Involvement  of  EU  and  Chinese  experts  in  CAADP  Country  Round  Table  processes,  while 
recognising African leadership. 

Exchanges  of  officials  between  headquarters  and  workshops  with  experts  from  each  side 
and  procedures.
could 

increase  knowledge  of  working  methods, 

approaches 

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Annex 5: List of Acronyms 

AfDB 

AMIS 

African Development Bank 

African Union Mission in the Sudan 

AMISOM 

African Union Mission in Somalia 

APF 

APRM 

APSA 

ASF 

AU 

AUC 

CAERT 

CDM 

CEMAC 

CEWS 

DRC 

EC 

EDF 

EITI 

African Peace Facility 

African Peer Review Mechanism  

African Peace and Security Architecture 

African Standby Force 

African Union 

African Union Commission 

Convention on the Prevention and Fight Against Terrorism  

Clean Development Mechanisms 

Communauté Economique et Monétaire en Afrique Centrale 

Continental Early Warning System 

Democratic Republic of Congo 

European Commission 

European Development Fund 

Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative 
http://eitransparency.org/eiti 

EITI-MDTF 

EITI Multi Donor Trust Fund 

ESDP 

EU (MS) 

FDI 

FLEG 

FLEGT 

FOCAC 

GEEREF 

European Security and Defence Policy 

European Union (Member States) 

Foreign Direct Investment 

Forest Law Environment Governance 

Forest Law Environment Governance and Trade 
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/forests/flegt.htm 

Forum for China Africa Cooperation 

Global Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Fund 

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http://ec.europa.eu/environment/jrec/energy_fund_en.htm 

GFTN 

ICA 

ICT 

IFI 

IMF 

ISO 

MDG 

NEPAD 

Global Forest Trade Network 
http://gftn.panda.org/ 

Infrastructure Consortium for Africa 

Information and Communication Technology 

International Finance Institutions 

International Monetary Fund 

International Standards Organisation 

Millennium Development Goals 

New Partnership for Africa's Development 

NEPAD-IPPF 

NEPAD Infrastructure Project Preparation Facility 

NEPAD-iSTAP 

NEPAD infrastructure Short Term Action Plan 

ODA 

OECD-DAC 

Official Development Assistance 

Organisation 
Development Assistance Committee 

for  Economic  Cooperation  and  Development 

- 

OHADA 

Organisation pour l'Harmonisation du Droit des Affaires en Afrique 

PK 

PSC 

REC 

RFMOs 

SALW 

SSA 

UN 

UNFCC 

UNFSA 

UNSC 

WB 

Peace Keeping 

AU Peace and Security Council 

Regional Economic Communities 

Regional Fishery Organisations 

Small arms and light weapons 

Sub-Saharan Africa 

United Nations 

UN Framework Convention on Climate Change 

UN Fish Stocks Agreement 

United Nations Security Council 

World Bank 

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