Regionerne og byerne gennemfører EU's strategi for Afrika
Opinion factsheet
På denne side
- Forbindelser udadtil, udvidelse og naboskabspolitik
- EU international partnership
- Union for the Mediterranean
Opinion number:
CDR-1622-2024
Status:
Vedtaget
Objective
On 9 March 2020, the European Commission published its Strategy With Africa which said that Africa has the youngest and fastest-growing middle class in the world and that: "Beyond formal dialogues, the EU and Africa should seek ways to intensify people-to-people contacts through exchange programmes, joint research activities or twinning initiatives between academic and cultural institutions, private sector, businesses, agencies and utilities, parliaments, local authorities or cities and regions".
At the November 2023 CoR plenary session, the EU Commissioner for International Partnerships declared that without the support of local and regional authorities the EU Global Gateway will fail and therefore the Gateway must be "localised". The inaugural milestone of the Global Gateway was the Africa-Europe Investment Package with approximately €150 billion dedicated to bolstering cooperation with African partners. At the November plenary, CoR First Vice-President Tzitzikostas announced that the CoR is committed to contributing the territorial dimension to the EU's Global Gateway agenda.
The objective of this opinion is therefore to define how the EU's subnational authorities can help to deliver the EU's new partnership with Africa, taking stock of existing city-to-city and region-to-region relations, identifying best practice, and spotting opportunities for other regions and municipalities to be involved. The opinion aims to provide evidence that supports the Commissioner's words that subnational authorities are key to delivering the strategy. The results of the opinion should therefore strengthen the role of municipalities and regions in the inter-institutional scene in relation to the partnership with Africa.
At the November 2023 CoR plenary session, the EU Commissioner for International Partnerships declared that without the support of local and regional authorities the EU Global Gateway will fail and therefore the Gateway must be "localised". The inaugural milestone of the Global Gateway was the Africa-Europe Investment Package with approximately €150 billion dedicated to bolstering cooperation with African partners. At the November plenary, CoR First Vice-President Tzitzikostas announced that the CoR is committed to contributing the territorial dimension to the EU's Global Gateway agenda.
The objective of this opinion is therefore to define how the EU's subnational authorities can help to deliver the EU's new partnership with Africa, taking stock of existing city-to-city and region-to-region relations, identifying best practice, and spotting opportunities for other regions and municipalities to be involved. The opinion aims to provide evidence that supports the Commissioner's words that subnational authorities are key to delivering the strategy. The results of the opinion should therefore strengthen the role of municipalities and regions in the inter-institutional scene in relation to the partnership with Africa.
Impact
• The Rapporteur with MEP H. Vautmans, co-chair of the EU-Africa parliamentary assembly and rapporteur for AFET on the MFF resolution of the Parliament, to promote the key points of the opinion. This was taken onboard through AM 51 on paragraph 50, page 25: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/AFET-AD-769922_EN.pdf
• The Administration and the Renew Group met with DEVE Chair Barry Andrews, suggesting amendments were tabled to include a more assertive mention of LRAs in the DEVE report on the implementation of SDGs, which is done in preparation of the HLPF. See AMs 173, 502 as well as 392, 547. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/CJ37-AM-771959EN.pdf; https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/CJ37-AM-771978EN.pdf
In its formal response to the CoR, the European Commission shared its support for most of the points of the opinion. The Commission response concluded that: "The Commission thanks the Committee of the Regions for its thoughtful and constructive recommendations. By advancing multi-level governance, strengthening financial support mechanisms, and fostering greater engagement of LRAs in high-level EU-Africa dialogues, the EU will continue to ensure that local voices are integral to shaping policies and initiatives. The Commission is committed to enhancing capacity-building efforts, supporting decentralised cooperation, and providing the necessary resources to empower LRAs in both the EU and Africa.
Through these collaborative efforts, the EU and its partners will deliver sustainable, inclusive, and impactful solutions that benefit communities on both continents and contribute to the achievement of the SDGs. The Commission looks forward to continuing its cooperation with the CoR and LRAs, advancing a shared vision for a prosperous and sustainable future for Europe and Africa."
• The Administration and the Renew Group met with DEVE Chair Barry Andrews, suggesting amendments were tabled to include a more assertive mention of LRAs in the DEVE report on the implementation of SDGs, which is done in preparation of the HLPF. See AMs 173, 502 as well as 392, 547. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/CJ37-AM-771959EN.pdf; https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/CJ37-AM-771978EN.pdf
In its formal response to the CoR, the European Commission shared its support for most of the points of the opinion. The Commission response concluded that: "The Commission thanks the Committee of the Regions for its thoughtful and constructive recommendations. By advancing multi-level governance, strengthening financial support mechanisms, and fostering greater engagement of LRAs in high-level EU-Africa dialogues, the EU will continue to ensure that local voices are integral to shaping policies and initiatives. The Commission is committed to enhancing capacity-building efforts, supporting decentralised cooperation, and providing the necessary resources to empower LRAs in both the EU and Africa.
Through these collaborative efforts, the EU and its partners will deliver sustainable, inclusive, and impactful solutions that benefit communities on both continents and contribute to the achievement of the SDGs. The Commission looks forward to continuing its cooperation with the CoR and LRAs, advancing a shared vision for a prosperous and sustainable future for Europe and Africa."
Essential points
THE EUROPEAN COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS (CoR)
- stresses that, in a context of rapid urbanisation, Africa’s cities and regions have a key role to play in developing the continent;
- asserts that EU-Africa relations should be guided by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which cannot be achieved without LRAs;
- warns that a successful partnership requires the direct involvement of LRAs and decentralisation; points out that the EU’s outermost regions are a clear advantage in this partnership;
- calls for the capacity for EU delegations to work with sub-national institutions to be strengthened, with contact points dedicated to local authorities;
- reiterates its call to reinstate a budget line in the Commission’s next multiannual financial framework dedicated to supporting LRAs and decentralised cooperation, for LRAs to be transversally integrated into programmes and for the creation of a ‘financing fund for African sub-national authorities’;
- remains convinced that European cities and regions involved in decentralised cooperation can bring an added value to Team Europe initiatives through their ability to mobilise the private sector;
- welcomes the Global Gateway, but regrets the limited role given to LRAs; highlights the importance of LRAs in creating transport corridors provided for by the Global Gateway; stresses, in that context, the crucial role that intermediary cities play in the Global Gateway;
- highlights the importance of the Nicosia initiative as a very good example of how the involvement of regions and cities can be beneficial in fragile settings;
- suggests that the Commission actively involve LRAs in preparing EU-AU summits and that the CoR be represented at the summits and ministerial meetings between the EU and Africa;
- calls for support to capacity building [of] African and European locally elected representatives;
- calls for enhanced cooperation between the EU and African governments to create economic opportunities, thereby empowering young graduates and reducing dependence on migration.