The African Union Commission and the European Commission jointly launched on 25 October a partnership on infrastructure at the Headquarters of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. This partnership aims to substantially increase EU investment in African infrastructure and delivery of transport, energy, water and telecommunication / ICT services.
The theme of the launching ceremony, co-chaired by Dr. Bernard Zoba, Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy of the African Union and Mr. Stefano Manservisi, Director General, Directorate-General for Development and Relations with ACP States, European Commission, was “Creating and sustaining regional infrastructure network and services in Africa”.
The launching ceremony was attended by representatives from European Union and Africa Union Members States as well as representatives of the major international financial institutions and major international institutions active in infrastructures sectors (water, energy, transport and telecommunications). UIC was represented by André Michel, UIC Coordinator for activities in Africa.
In his opening address, Commissioner Zoba told participants that infrastructure constitutes an important factor to the physical integration of the Continent given that it facilitates the influx and commercialisation of products as well as socio-economic interactions. He said that the limited number of infrastructures in Africa is an obstacle to development. Hence the need to bridge the digital divide and improve transport and energy related services within the continent.
Commissioner Bernard Zoba further explained that, the priority of the African Union through its programme NEPAD is to put in place infrastructures that will increase African interconnectivity so as to expand trade, job opportunities and economic growth through important partnership such as the EU-Africa partnership. “A big push is necessary to help Africa close its infrastructure gap so vital for reaching its MDGs”, he explained.
According to the Director General for Development at the European Commission, Stefano Manservisi, the partnership is Europe’s response to the ambitious goals of the African Union and its NEPAD Infrastructure Action Plan and that, the EC is ready to contribute to the vision of a better connected Continent. He pointed out that for the partnership to be efficient, all the partners would have to play their roles. He explained that the role of the African Union Commission would be to insure overall coordination at the Continental level, while the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and specialised organisations will ensure consistency of regional and continental plans and respect of sectoral policies. As for the African Development Bank (ADB), Mr. Manservisi said they would act as a leading investor in Africa’s infrastructure.
Among sectoral objectives for infrastructure interventions which have been identified concerning the field of Transport, the priority is to reduce the cost and improve the quality of services, by removing infrastructure barriers and non-physical barriers to free movement of goods and people, strengthening customs operations, improving maintenance of transport assets, etc.
A Joint Declaration of the African Union Commission (AUC) and the European Commission (EC) (see below) confirms the general principles of this Partnership aiming to interconnect the African Continent in the following main areas: transports, water, energy and Information and Communication Technologies.