Greater political dialogue is required. The following will improve political dialogue:

• Regular consultations within the International Contact Groups dealing with major political crises or unconstitutional changes of governments in Africa;
• More effective follow-up of the conclusions reached during the meetings of the two PSCs and interaction in between meetings;
• More regular and effective dialogue on cross-cutting issues of common interest such as: disarmament, non-proliferation, Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) and the ongoing process towards the elaboration of an AU Strategy on SALW, fight against terrorism including AU’s concerns on the payment of ransom to terrorist groups as per the Sirte Decision of 2009, cooperation and coordination of positions on international issues of common concern particularly at the level of the UN;
• Coordination of positions on conflict and crisis situations the AU is seized with, with a view to enhancing the effectiveness of decisions taken in this respect, in particular with regard to unconstitutional changes of government;
• Concerted action in support of countries emerging from conflicts, as part of the overall efforts for post conflict reconstruction and peace building.

Need to sustain and consolidate APS and make it fully functional. The priorities are:

• Complete the APSA assessment by August 2010. This should facilitate the elaboration of an AU roadmap for the APSA operationalization and for long-term EU programming of the required technical and financial support;
• Continue EU support to the capacity development of APSA based on the first set of priority measures to be submitted by the AU and RECs/RMs in line with the Akosombo Conclusions;
• Intensify efforts for the organization of Exercise AMANI Africa before October 2010;
• Follow-up and implementation of the recommendations on Training Centres. These recommendations were decided at the Workshop in Nairobi on 8 to 12 February 2010. They validate the report of the AU-EU experts study as part of the first set of measures of the planned APSA roadmap;
• Continue and enhance cooperation between the AU Situation Room and the EU Joint Research Centre (JRC) in ISPRA. This includes technical support for the development of the Continental Early Warning System (CEWS).

Both Africa and the EU recognise the need for more effective follow-up of the relevant provisions of the Africa-EU Action Plan. More specifically, this will entail:

• Greater coordination and consultation including in New York between the African and European groups;
• Concerted and concrete action to follow-up on the recommendations contained in the Prodi Report, in particular regarding funding of AU-led PSOs.

Need to enhance the effectiveness of the JEGs. This will entail:

• Sectoral meetings of experts to review specific aspects and make recommendations to the JEG;
• Streamline JEG so as to place priority on issues on which Africa-EU Partnership has an added value;
• Two Commissions will prepare a draft agenda and concept note on how to enhance the JEG for the next JEG meeting;
• Establish clusters dealing with specific and cross-cutting issues within the Partnership. The possibility of co-chairs establishing specific small ad hoc groups to prepare for the JEGs could be explored, etc.

Need to make an overall assessment of the Partnership and enhance its effectiveness.