The ''Joint Strategy and Action Plan'' and the ''Lisbon Declaration'' have been made available. These documents result from the EU-Africa Summit, which was held from 7 to 9 December in Lisbon and which brought together representatives from the Member States of the European Union (EU) and from African countries, setting out an approach to the challenges that are commonly faced by Africa and Europe.
The purpose of the Joint Strategy is to take the Africa-EU relationship to a new, strategic level with a strengthened political partnership and enhanced cooperation at all levels. The partnership will be based on a Euro-African consensus on values, common interests and common strategic objectives.
This Joint Strategy, which will provide an overarching long-term framework for Africa-EU relations, will be implemented through successive short-term Action Plans and enhanced political dialogue at all levels, resulting in concrete and measurable outcomes in all areas of the partnership.
In the ''Joint Strategy and Action Plan'', sets out priority actions, addressing the partnership between the EU and Africa in terms of science, the information society and space, with the aim of bridging the digital divide and promoting the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) as key tools for reducing poverty, building growth and implementing socio-economic development.
Among the various activities connected to this priority action, key are; the creation of suitable conditions for the establishment of efficient partnerships between public and private sectors, with the purpose of ensuring economic service and maximum availability of ICT and connected services; the harmonisation of efforts and initiatives with regard to ICTs that include infrastructure, internet exchange points, interconnectivity and interoperability; the promotion of ICT policies and strengthening of regulatory frameworks in Africa; the maintenance of systematic and regular dialogue on all issues related to ICTs on technical, senior official and political level in the most effective formats.
The ''Lisbon Declaration'' sets out the necessary means and instruments that will enable the fulfilment of the Joint Strategy and the Action Plan. Accordingly, a comprehensive and effective follow-up mechanism was created that can deliver on these goals and show the results on the occasion of the Third Summit that shall be held in 2010.
Further information:
- Joint Africa-EU Strategy and Action Plan http://www.eu2007.pt/NR/rdonlyres/D449546C-BF42-4CB3-B566-407591845C43/0/071206jsapenlogos_formatado.pdf
- Lisbon Declaration http://www.eu2007.pt/NR/rdonlyres/BAC34848-05CC-45E9-8F1D-8E2663079609/0/20071208LISBONDeclaration_EN.pdf
