• The Africa-EU Partnership on Peace and Security aims to change the security landscape both inside and outside Africa. The primary focus, however, is on the continental (AU) and sub-regional (RECs) levels.
• The Partnership enables the Commission and the EU to further support African peace missions and strengthen relevant African capacities within the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA).
• The objective is to enhance structural political dialogue, including in the UN framework, in Contact Groups, and in current (COPS-PSC) and new EU (EEAS) structures.

To flourish, sustainable development requires a safe and secure environment. Peace is therefore an essential foundation to progress. By preventing and settling on-going conflicts, the Africa-EU Partnership on Peace and Security aims to establish the framework necessary for development. The Partnership is a key component of the continent’s future, both inside and outside its borders.

The close collaboration between Africa and the EU ideally enables those on the ground to act both quickly and decisively against threats. Political dialogue is growing. However, political dialogue should be better organised to ensure systematic linkages between decision making structures and levels. The African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) operations have made commendable progress and the support provided by the EU has been instrumental.

A fully functional Architecture is possible but more needs to be done to sustain and consolidate this progress. More effective follow-up should be given to the relevant provisions of the Africa-EU Action Plan. The Action Plan was adopted in Lisbon and commits Africa and EU to work together to achieve, within the framework of Chapter VIII of the UN Charter, a mechanism to provide sustainable, flexible and predictable support for peacekeeping operations undertaken by the AU or under its authority with the consent of the UN Security Council. So far, more than two-thirds of the 24 activities agreed in the three priority actions of the Partnership have been launched.

Goals

• Reach common positions and implement common approaches on challenges to peace and security in Africa, Europe and globally.
• Effective functioning of the African Peace and Security Architecture to address peace and security challenges in Africa.
• Financially enable the AU and regional mechanisms to plan and conduct Peace Support Operations.

Expected outcomes

• Deepened common understanding on the causes of conflicts and their resolution.
• Strengthened cooperation on conflict prevention, management and resolution, including long-term post-conflict reconstruction and peace building.
• Improved coordination of continent-wide and regional approaches and initiatives.
• Increased EU and African cooperation and influence in international and global fora.
• Full operationalisation of the various components of the APSA, in particular the Continental Early Warning System, the Panel of the Wise, and the African Standby Force.
• Enhanced capacities of AU and the regional mechanisms.
• Concrete progress in the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts.
• Strengthened African capabilities.
• Reduction of funding gaps and of the prejudicial uncertainty for African-led peace support operations.
• More effective deployment of these operations.