European Union « Afronline – The Voice Of Africa

Exclusive. Op-Ed: We can help the people of CAR unleash their immense untapped potential

Brussels – On 17 November, the International conference for the Central African Republic will take place in Brussels, organised jointly by the European Union and the Central African Government. Afronline.org, in partnership with African media partners, publishes a joint op-ed by Faustin-Archange Touadéra (President of the Central African Republic), Federica Mogherini (High Representative of the European Union for Foreign and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission), Jan Eliasson (Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations) and Makhtar Diop (Vice-President of the World Bank).

EU aid: sustainable development at risk

Oct26

The European Union has again failed to meet its commitment to spend 0.7% of Gross National Income on Development Aid by 2015. The CONCORD Aidwatch report 2016 published today, entitled ‘This is not enough’, reveals that only five countries met their 2015 targets: Denmark, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Sweden and United Kingdom.

Is the EU’s migration partnership approach with African countries balanced?

Oct24

Brussels – The implementation of the Valletta Action Plan and the EU Migration Compact for cooperation on migration with African countries are not perceived as balanced or as being conducted in a spirit of true partnership by all parties, writes ECDPM’s experts. This risks undermining the EU’s image as partner in the area of migration and development and may undermine principles of good donorship.

The paradoxes of a soft dictatorship

Oct17

For the second time in seven years, violent unrest has followed the presidential election in the small country of Gabon in West Equatorial Africa. The crisis started on August 28, when the candidate of the united opposition, Jean Ping (age 73), declared himself the winner of the presidential election. In the country’s capital, Libreville, people retreated into an anxious pause.

Interview with Patrick Gomes (ACP Group of States): “Diversifying partnerships is key for our future”

Oct13

In February 2020, the Cotonou Agreement will expire and a new relationship has to be designed, taking into account the achievements and shortcomings of the agreement. The EU and the ACP Group of States have started informal discussion on the future of this unique agreement. During the last UN General Assembly in New York, we met the Secretary General of the ACP Secretariat, Patrick Gomes, who shared his views in this interview focused on the main ACP’s challenges.

Bernardo Bini Smaghi (CDP): the Italian Development Cooperation secures funding

Oct13

Rome – For the first time since the convention between the Cassa depositi e prestiti (the Italian Development Cooperation – the CDPp), the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation (MAECI) and the Agenzia per la cooperazione allo sviluppo (Italian Development Aid Agency – AICS) was signed in July, Bernardo Bini Smaghi, Head of Business Development at the CDP, has decided to share his views. In this exclusive interview with Afronline.org, he discusses his ambitions for the prestigious Italian public-sector financial institution and the historic step which is set to bring the CDP into the world of Italian development aid and international cooperation.