Lisbon - The summit of the African and European Unions, held in Lisbon this weekend, agreed a document setting out nine key areas for future cooperation, with limited targets for each side to achieve before the next summit, planned for 2010.
The so-called Africa-EU Strategic Partnership establishes the following areas for cooperation:
PEACE AND SECURITY: the agreement calls on the EU and AU to hold regular consultations on security threats.
The EU is to lobby for better funding and organization for AU-led peace and security missions, and to provide training for African security and justice systems. The AU is to boost its own participation in peace missions and conflict resolution.
DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS: the two sides are to cooperate more closely over issues of democracy and human rights, and to work together on issues such as terrorism, drugs and human trafficking.
The African side is to strengthen its commitment to democratic government and ratify key texts such as the African Charter on Democracy. The EU is to boost its support for the AU in the process.
Both sides are also called on to look for ways to solve the problem of African cultural treasures - many of which are now in European museums, and which some African states have said were illegally obtained and should be returned.
TRADE: the two sides are to work towards creating a free trade area linking the continents.
According to the text, the AU should boost its monitoring and coordination of African trade issues, while AU states are asked to strengthen the enforcement of their export and trade standards.
The EU is expected to provide expertise, boost investment in infrastructure development and ensure that its trade deals support African efforts to boost their regional and international commerce.
DEVELOPMENT: both sides are called on to work towards the reduction of poverty and disease, with the EU boosting its aid and investments and the AU improving its administrative ability to deal with donations and handle long-term problems.
ENERGY: the two sides are to improve their cooperation on energy issues, boosting EU investment in African energy systems, especially as regards renewable power sources. They are also to support energy links, such as pipelines, between the continents.
CLIMATE CHANGE: both sides are called on to share ideas and technology which would reduce the impact of climate change, and to work on ways to help African countries deal with its effects.
MIGRATION: the AU is expected to help rein in the flow of illegal migrants from Africa to Europe and make it easier for migrants to return home, including by boosting employment and economic development in Africa.
The EU is expected to improve efforts to integrate migrants into European society, help African states fight against the 'brain drain' of skilled workers, especially medics, and make it easier for migrants to send money home.
SCIENCE: The two sides are to work together to boost the performance of African scientific institutions, the use of the internet and the application of satellite-based technologies - the planned European 'Galileo' navigation system among them.
INSTITUTIONAL CHANGE: Finally, the document calls on the EU to help the AU itself develop into a stronger, better-financed and more competent organization.
As part of the package, the EU is to open its own diplomatic representation at the AU's headquarters in Addis Ababa, while the AU is expected to boost its presence in Brussels.
© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur 
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