Paper short abstract:

Political dialogue is a major objective of the Joint Africa-EU Strategy. The paper deals with the problems of taking the long experience of development cooperation of the Lomé/Cotonou Agreements as the basis for pursuing this objective

Paper long abstract:

As the African continent grows and its economic leverage increases globally, the prospects for the future of the Africa-EU Strategic Partnership seem to be in better odds than those of the EU-ACP Cotonou Agreement bound to end in 2020. However, the rhetoric of mutual interests and political dialogue cannot continue to be systematically translated into practices of "how can (we the EU) help Africa to solve its problems / what should (we Africa) ask from Europe to solve our problems". This persistent attitude that still exists in both parties is exemplified by comparing JAES with its Plans of Action: the will expressed in the JAES to "evolve the relationship towards a political dialogue based on common interests" is submerged into Plans of Action designed, once again, to solve African perceived problems. This is not to say that financial and technical programmes of development cooperation are not justified - they are and they can still play an important role; however, no matter how much based on African needs and objectives or how much "empowered" by the Africans, these programmes cannot be a substitute for political dialogue. The dossiers on economic, security and global issues have to be central pieces in the strategic partnership, regardless of the level of economic development of the parties, meaning that the frontiers among development, trade and foreign policy have to be crossed by both parties.