• Socio-economic and political integration is a key part of Africa’s development strategy. The partnership provides a platform for the EU – which has a history of successful integration processes – to share its experiences with Africa. In this way, the Partnership helps advance African integration agendas, both at regional and pan-African levels.
• The Partnership supports enhanced trade within Africa and on global markets, recognising that trade is essential for development, economic growth and employment, and ultimately the eradication of poverty. To this end, the Partnership strengthens African capacities to meet rules, standards and quality requirements which are essential for sustainable access to international markets.
• Infrastructure is vital for integration. Road and rail, ports, energy supply – these are just some of the infrastructure needed to enhance travel, transport and trade. For this reason the Partnership contributes to identifying, funding and implementing infrastructure projects across Africa.

Enhanced trade and deeper regional integration are essential contributions to development, economic growth and employment, and, ultimately, the eradication of poverty. Efforts are being made, in particular to enhance African integration agendas, both at regional and Pan-African levels, to strengthen African capacities to comply with the rules, standards and quality requirements which are essential to enable effective access to regional and international markets and to help Africa build and maintain the infrastructure it needs for its development.

Economic integration is a key part of Africa’s development strategy and, as stated in the Treaty of Abuja, continental integration will be built on regional integration initiatives. African Regional Integration Organisations (RIOs) are therefore key actors in the integration process. As the EU has undergone a successful process of integration, it can share its experiences with Africa.

Goals: 

• Support the African integration agenda: The integration of the continent in line with the Treaty establishing the African Economic Community (Abuja Treaty).
• Strengthen African capacities in all relevant areas, notably rules, standards, and quality control through:
  • an enhanced capacity of administrations, producers and exporters at all levels to meet the regulatory requirements of export markets within Africa and the EU, thus allowing diversification away from simple processed products; and
  • an enhanced competitiveness of African agriculture and agri-food industry through particular attention to Sanitary and Phyto-sanitary Standards (SPS).
• Implement the EU-Africa Infrastructure Partnership to provide improved and sustained African infrastructure and services.

 Expected outcomes: 

• An accelerated integration process with the participation of all stakeholders, including those in the informal sector along with enhanced African capacities to implement the integration agenda.
• Better coherence and convergence of the integration processes between the AU Commission and the RECs as well as clear synergies between African integration processes and the EPAs, the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership, and bilateral trade agreements.
• Better informed producers and exporters capable of complying with the rules and regulatory requirements of export markets supported by a sufficient number of trained inspectors and customs officials to efficiently facilitate exports. In addition, the higher diversification of exports.
• A sufficient number of well-equipped and accredited laboratories – possibly to be shared among countries – for testing and certifying exports. Mutual recognition agreements on certain standards.
• A network to share information on market access, technical rules and regulations. Clear progress towards the elimination of intra-regional non-tariff barriers to trade.
• Enhanced continental and regional integration and trade through better interconnectivity. Improved infrastructure networks and services. Stronger African capacities in infrastructure management and policy development.
• Increased participation of the private sector in infrastructure development, including through Public-Private Partnership.
• Increased and sustainable investments in physical infrastructure as well as better management of shared water-course systems.