RDC : l’Union européenne déploie une mission d’observation électorale
En réponse à une invitation du ministère des Affaires étrangères de la République démocratique du Congo (RDC), l'Union européenne a décidé de déployer une mission d'observation électorale (MOE) de l'UE pour les élections générales prévues le 20 décembre 2023.
Global Gateway: EU signs strategic partnerships on critical raw materials value chains with DRC and Zambia and advances cooperation with US and other key partners to develop the ‘Lobito Corridor'
On October 26, 2023, at the Global Gateway Forum taking place in Brussels, the EU signed three Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with partners to develop critical raw materials value chains and boost transport connectivity.
Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen, signed a Memorandum of Understanding for a partnership on critical and strategic raw materials value chains with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Minister of Mines, Antoinette N'samba Kalambayi*, and a strategic partnership on sustainable raw materials value chains with Zambian Minister of Finance, Situmbeko Musokotwane.
New from the European Parliament
Development Committee
Members of the Committee on Development met on 24 October to exchange views, among other things, on:
- on the Priorities of the Spanish Presidency with Ms Pilar Cancela, State Secretary for International Cooperation
- Hearing : Team Europe initiative: saving the Congo Basin and providing development opportunities for Congo Basin countries (documents and recording)
- Role of EU development policy in transforming the extractive industries for sustainable development in developing countries (documents)
- EU development cooperation to enhance access to education and training in developing countries (documents)
- EU development cooperation in support of access to energy in developing countries (documents)
You can find the draft agenda with all the discussed topics here. Next meeting of the DEVE Committee will be held on 16 November.
EU-Botswana Business Forum (EBBF)
On the 11th and 12th of October, 2023, the EU-Botswana Business Forum (EBBF) was held in Gaborone, Botswana.
Botswana and the European Union offered a space to explore new investment and trade opportunities for captains of industries, investors, private sector organisations, chambers of commerce, public institutions, policymakers, and financial institutions.
The delegates shared experience, explored ways to strengthen cooperation, network and exchange ideas on trade and investment topics such as business development strategies, industry trends, market opportunities and special economic development. The EBBF was a unique opportunity for networking and discussion with audience participation and interaction opportunities across each session’s design.
Global Gateway: launch of the Green Hydrogen Strategy and Roadmap for Kenya
During the Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and President of Kenya Ruto launched the Green Hydrogen Strategy and Roadmap for Kenya, with the support of Global Gateway, Europe's investment strategy for the world.
The Roadmap, developed with EU experts, sets out Kenya's ambitions to develop its green hydrogen industry from this year to 2032 and beyond. It focuses on domestic market development and growth, exports, and includes specific objectives related to emission reduction, job creation, and direct investments.
Global Gateway: EU launches Digital Economy Package for Kenya to boost connectivity, skills and inclusive governance
As part of her official visit to Kenya, European Union Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen launched the EU’s Digital Economy Package for Kenya. As part of the Global Gateway investment strategy – the EU’s positive offer to advance the twin digital and green transition and to deliver trusted and sustainable connections to partner countries – the package reflects the EU’s strong commitment to Kenya’s technological transition by expanding the connectivity of schools, providing skills training for students and establishing a green digital innovation hub.
Global Gateway: Ghana and the EU mark a new chapter in the battle against illegal timber trade
Ghana will be the first country in Africa and second worldwide to provide the EU with export licences that verify the legality of their timber products. Meeting in Brussels, the implementation body of the Ghana-EU Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) on Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT), which brings together Ghanaian public authorities in charge of forest administration, the private sector, civil society and the European Commission, reached an agreement on the last steps towards issuing FLEGT licences, marking a new chapter in the battle against illegal timber trade.
Developing countries’ energy needs and priorities under a sustainable development perspective - The specific case of Africa and green hydrogen
On 20 September, a workshop on "Developing countries’ energy needs and priorities under a sustainable development perspective - The specific case of Africa and green hydrogen" took place from 10.30-12.00. The event was chaired by Tomas Tobé, Chair of the Committee on Development.
Ubi maior minor cessat: is it time for a new EU strategy in Tunisia and the Global South?
EBCAM's research assistant, Sara Lolli, has written an analysis on EU-Tunisia relationships in light of the recent developments in the Mediterranean for Eyes On Europe, the magazine of the Institut d'Etudes Européennes of the ULB.
Quality education in Africa: EU launches €100 million Regional Teachers' Initiative
Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen launched today a Regional Teachers' Initiative in Africa and for Africa, a €100 million investment from the EU budget in empowering the world's fastest growing youth population through quality education. This flagship initiative under the EU–Africa Global Gateway Investment Package aims to accelerate the training of teachers for Sub-Saharan Africa, responding to the need for 15 million new qualified teachers for Africa by 2030. The initiative will contribute to regional and national objectives by supporting and complementing national education and teacher reforms, offer opportunities for cross-country collaboration, partnerships, and peer learning in the region and with Europe.
At the launch of the initiative in Pretoria, South Africa, in the presence of the Minister of Basic Education from South Africa, the African Union Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Ministers of Education from South Africa, Senegal and Botswana and representatives of EU Member States, UNESCO, teachers, and young activists, Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen said: “I am proud to launch today the Regional Teachers' Initiative, a €100 million Global Gateway investment in quality education in Africa. We want to support our partners to have in every classroom a qualified teacher, a valued professional who can empower children and young people to thrive and develop skills for a future professional life. Together we can improve learning outcomes and accelerate progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality education for all. Education is the most powerful investment in our future, and teachers are key to it. We need more teachers and quality teaching.”
Qualified teachers in greater numbers
The initiative aims to increase the number of qualified teachers by making teaching both an attractive job prospect for promising young professionals and a life-long learning experience. It puts an emphasis on teachers in basic education acquiring and transmitting digital and green skills – skills that will enable students in tomorrow's world to plug into the opportunities of the digital transformation, and engage them in the preservation of our planet. The initiative will also cover teaching in crisis contexts.