The EU’s engagement with regional multilateral organisations Case study: African perspective

Abstract

This deliverable of Work Package No 5 assesses the engagement of the EU with the AU and other intergovernmental organisations in Africa. Through the Joint Africa-EU Strategy (JAES), the EU and its member states on the one hand and the AU and African states on the other hand have committed themselves to work towards the realisation of joint values such as human rights. The deliverable consists of eight chapters. The first chapter sets out the aims, conceptual framework, methodology and structure of the report. The second chapter explores the place of human rights and multilateralism in the EU, with a focus on the EU treaties, guidelines on human rights and the EU Strategic Framework and Action Plan on Human Rights. The third chapter discusses the institutional framework related to promotion and protection of human rights in the AU and other African intergovernmental organisations with a human rights mandate such as the EAC and ECOWAS. The chapter also consider the major EU human rights stakeholders of relevance to relations with Africa. The fourth chapter considers substantive goals and objectives in relation to the EU human rights policy towards Africa and goals and objectives enshrined in international agreements between the EU and African states, including the Cotonou Agreement and JAES. The chapter further discusses the JAES roadmap and action plans, sub-regional cooperation strategies and EU member state initiatives in relation to human rights. The fifth chapter studies the tools and methods employed by the EU at African intergovernmental organisations. Particluar attention is given to the human rights dialogue between the EU and the AU. The chapter also considers other initiatives such as the Africa-EU Platform for Dialogue on Governance and Human Rights, the EU-Africa Summit, the EU-Africa High Level Policy Dialogue, the Commission- to Commission meetings and sub-regional political dialogues. The sixth chapter considers the EUs and its member states important role in providing financing for the AU and other African intergovernmental organisations. The chapter consider issues such as aid earmarking and coordination. The seventh chapter consists of two case studies, one focusing on food security and the other on human rights defenders. The report illustrates how the relationship between the EU and the AU and other African regional IOs has become more equal in recent years and that Africa is now treated as one unit, represented by the AU. Challenges remain in relation to making the relationship functioning effectively, in particular in light of the numerous actors involved in EU-Africa relations, including EU and AU member states, AU institutions, RECs and civil society actors. The effectiveness of interventions such as the EU-AU human rights dialogue in promoting EU human rights strategies is questionable, in particular in light of the divergent opinions on many issues despite the slogan of ‘two unions, one vision’. Financing from the EU plays an important role for African intergovernmental organisations to perform their functions. However, reliance on donor funding remains controversial and coordination among donors could still be improved.