CIAO DATE: 06/02

Towards a Coherent EU Conflict Prevention Policy in Africa: Challenges for the Belgian Presidency

September 2001
Brussels

International Security Information Service

 

Abstract

The Belgian Presidency aims to continue the work on EU conflict prevention undertaken during the Swedish Presidency by focusing on how the EU can effectively address conflicts in Africa. This conference sought to identify some of the challenges facing the Belgian Presidency and suggest concrete steps that the EU could take to ensure coherence in its development co-operation, trade, and common foreign and security policies. The conference specifically aimed to explore how the conflict prevention potential of the new EU-ACP 'Cotonou' Agreement could be realised by developing its provisions for political dialogue and the modalities for engaging civil society in conflict prevention and peacebuilding.

The opening session identified the factors causing and sustaining conflicts in Africa and the shortcomings of current EU responses. While poor governance was identified as one of the principal causes of conflict, it was noted that effective responses required multi-level engagement by the EU, including consultation with and support for local civil society.

Three regional workshops met in the afternoon. The workshop on the Horn of Africa looked specifically at the issue of resource-based conflict and noted that EU policy towards the region requires an integrated approach to resource management. The workshop on the Great Lakes region focused on the shortcomings of EU intervention in the protracted and endemic conflicts of the region and the workshop on West Africa examined the lessons learned from Mali and Sierra Leone. In all workshops it was noted that civil society, including women's and youth groups, were key actors in attempts to improve governance, uphold human rights, mediate and engage in weapons collection. It was argued that the EU should be willing to support such 'risky' initiatives in addition to tackling the trans-national and macro-economic causes of conflict.

The final session introduced the policy priorities of the Belgian Presidency concerning Africa: focusing on the Great Lakes region; developing the Europe-Africa dialogue; tackling conflict prevention as a horizontal issue; and making development and humanitarian assistance more conflict sensitive. In conclusion, NGO representatives summarised the principle findings of the regional working groups and identified common concerns and opportunities for the EU. They stressed the importance of support for and engagement of civil society in the development of policy and the operationalisation of the Cotonou Agreement as well as the need for building capacity and political will within the EU.

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