In the context of the joint EU-Africa Strategic partnership, Andris Piebalgs, European Commissioner for Development, and Michel Barnier Commissioner for Internal Market and Services, will attend the annual joint meeting of the Ministers of Finance and Economy of the African Union and of the UN Economic Commission for Africa on 28th and 29th March in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia). The core topic of the meeting will be about "Governing Development in Africa", including discussions on the role of the State, long term prospects for sustainable development through economic integration and green growth. The Commissioners will confirm EU readiness to support Africa's endeavours towards good governance of the economy at national and regional level, a fairly redistributed and environmentally-friendly growth, and a common agenda in the global economic governance. Commissioners will also meet with Jean Ping, President of the African Union, to discuss notably recent developments in North Africa and in Ivory Coast, as well as to prepare the future of EU-African relations. They will also meet with African Union Commissioner Ramtane Lamamra to discuss peace and security issues, notably in Somalia and Ivory Coast.

Commissioner Piebalgs will address the panel on Green Economy and Global Sustainability at the joint AU Conference of Ministers of Economy and Finance and UN Economic Commission for Africa. He will highlight the EU's ongoing commitment to encouraging sustainable management of areas like forestry, extraction, renewable energy and water. Discussions will focus on the EU's support for sustainable and inclusive growth. He will also underline the role of democratic values in the sustainable economic development of countries.

Green growth will be one of the major themes at the 2012 Rio Conference on Sustainable Development. The outcomes of the Annual Ministerial Conference will provide a basis for concerted action between the EU and Africa at both national and regional levels. The subsequent ministerial statement and outcomes of the Conference will help inform the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government in July.

Michel Barnier will share EU experience on regional integration in the course of a High Level Panel Discussion on the theme of "Governing Development in Africa" and in a series of bilateral meetings with senior African representatives. He will also highlight the importance of transparency of companies active in Africa and of the financial markets, notably in commodities. Following a joint workshop of the EU Commission and the African Union Commission on the Internal Market held at the end of February this year, Commissioner Barnier will propose a series of follow-up actions for future cooperation in this field. Examples include staff exchanges and seminars for the AUC on a range of policies such as technical standardization, public procurement, financial services, money laundering, and the enforcement of intellectual property rights.

Following up on its recent Green Paper, the European Union is currently undertaking a global review of its development policy, putting a stronger emphasis on promoting an enabling environment for inclusive growth, private sector investment and job creation, including through innovative means of financing.