Dokumente - Think Tank - Europäisches Parlament

Briefing - 'Sahelexit' in West Africa: Implications for ECOWAS and the EU - 26-04-2024

Thu, 25 Apr 2024 22:00:00 GMT

At the end of January 2024, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger announced their withdrawal (referred to as 'Sahelexit' by several media outlets) from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). This withdrawal – with immediate effect according to the departing states, within a one-year deadline according to the ECOWAS Treaty – presents a complex set of challenges for the region. ECOWAS, initially designed to promote regional economic integration, has over the years adopted protocols to uphold democracy and good governance. On several occasions it has adopted sanctions against unconstitutional changes of government in its member states, like those that recently occurred in Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso and Niger. However, these actions have had mixed results, with negative effects on most ECOWAS member states, hindering economic cooperation and increasing trade costs, thereby complicating regional integration efforts and increasing humanitarian crises. The three states presented their withdrawal as a reaction to sanctions. Despite the lifting of sanctions, the three states are still considering bringing their new Alliance of Sahelian States (AES) out of ECOWAS. The withdrawal will probably not mitigate the negative effects of the sanctions; it also risks weakening existing security mechanisms and international cooperation, already made fragile by the forced departure of UN and Western forces from these states, while Russian private military companies appear to be taking over in the three AES countries. The impact on the EU is manifold. The rising influence of Russia and other players, coupled with the increasingly negative perception of France in its former colonies, is already challenging the EU's clout in the region. EU security and migration strategies throughout West Africa depend significantly on the leverage of ECOWAS over its member states. As this leverage is reduced by the withdrawal of three of them, this could potentially escalate security risks and further destabilise neighbouring regions. Migration flows might become less controlled, potentially increasing irregular migration to Europe.

Quelle : © Europäische Union, 2024 - EP

Auf einen Blick - Question Time: Situation in west and central Africa in the light of the recent coups d’état - 08-09-2023

Thu, 07 Sep 2023 22:00:00 GMT

On 26 July 2023, a coup by his military entourage overthrew President Bazoum in Niger. On 30 August, just after President Ali Bongo had been officially declared elected for a third term in Gabon, a group of military officers announced his removal from office and arrest, and suspended the constitution. These latest coups add to the growing list of unconstitutional changes of government in sub-Saharan Africa in recent years. During the September plenary, Question Time with the High Representative/Vice-President (HR/VP), Josep Borrell, will focus on the challenges these coups bring to the EU strategies in the region.

Quelle : © Europäische Union, 2023 - EP

Briefing - Piracy in the Gulf of Guinea: EU and international action - 12-03-2020

Wed, 11 Mar 2020 23:00:00 GMT

The Gulf of Guinea is framed by 6 000 km of west African coastline, from Senegal to Angola. Its sea basin is an important resource for fisheries and is part of a key sea route for the transport of goods between central and southern Africa and the rest of the world. Its geo-political and geo-economic importance has grown since it has become a strategic hub in global and regional energy trade. Every day, nearly 1 500 fishing vessels, cargo ships and tankers navigate its waters. The security of this maritime area is threatened by the rise of piracy, illegal fishing, and other maritime crimes. Regional actors have committed to cooperate on tackling the issue through the 'Yaoundé Code of Conduct' and the related cooperation mechanism and bodies. The international community has also pledged to track and condemn acts of piracy at sea. The European Union (EU), which has a strong interest in safeguarding its maritime trade and in addressing piracy's root causes, supports regional and international initiatives. The EU is also implementing its own maritime security strategy, which includes, among other features, a regional component for the Gulf of Guinea; this entails EU bodies' and Member States' cooperation in countering acts of piracy, as well as capacity-building projects. This briefing draws from and updates the sections on the Gulf of Guinea in 'Piracy and armed robbery off the coast of Africa', EPRS, March 2019.

Quelle : © Europäische Union, 2020 - EP

Eingehende Analyse - Piraterie und bewaffnete Raubüberfälle vor der Küste Afrikas: Auswirkungen auf die EU und weltweit - 19-03-2019

Tue, 19 Mar 2019 14:38:52 GMT

Die maritime Sicherheit Afrikas wird durch eine Vielzahl illegaler Aktivitäten gefährdet. Im Vordergrund dieser Studie stehen Piraterie und bewaffnete Raubüberfälle auf See, wobei die rechtlichen Aspekte und gesell¬schaft¬lichen Auswirkungen dieser Formen von Gewalt unter¬sucht werden. Piraterie und bewaffnete Raub¬über¬fälle vor der Küste Afrikas stellen auch eine Bedro¬hung für die Sicherheit und Wirtschaft der Europäischen Union dar. Seit 2008 verfolgt die Europäische Union mittels verschiedener regionaler Strategien im Golf von Aden und Golf von Guinea eine Strategie für maritime Sicherheit (EUMSS).

Quelle : © Europäische Union, 2019 - EP

Auf einen Blick - Regional efforts to fight Boko Haram - 13-02-2017

Mon, 13 Feb 2017 13:52:06 GMT

The cross-border dimension of the Boko Haram insurgency – one of the world's deadliest terrorist groups – has compelled the countries in the Lake Chad basin to coordinate their fight against it. Launched in 2014, the Multinational Joint Task Force has weakened the group, without fully defeating it. The acute humanitarian situation calls for an approach that goes beyond military intervention. This 'at a glance' note updates a previous edition from March 2015.

Quelle : © Europäische Union, 2017 - EP

Briefing - Expanding the network of EU tuna fisheries agreements - 08-07-2016

Fri, 08 Jul 2016 12:01:28 GMT

Since 1980, the EU has set up a network of bilateral fisheries agreements, providing fishing opportunities for the EU fleet in the waters of third countries. These agreements were concluded with countries in West Africa (1980-1998), in the western Indian Ocean (1984-1989), and in the western-central Pacific (2003-2007). Over the past few years, the European Commission has considered the possibility of expanding EU fleet access to new partner countries’ waters in the three regions. These fishing opportunities would slot in the current network of tuna fisheries agreements, allowing EU vessels to pursue tuna migration within the waters of the new partner countries. Several procedures are now at different stages of progress, with the first of them – the agreement with Liberia – being adopted recently. To put these new opportunities into perspective, this briefing provides an overview of the EU tuna fisheries in the three regions, outlining the activities of the different types of EU tuna fishing vessels within and outside the framework of EU agreements, and the importance of their catches to the EU market. The potential agreements with Ghana and Sierra Leone (in West Africa); with Tanzania and Kenya (in the western Indian Ocean); and with the Cook Islands (in the western-central Pacific) are presented against this backdrop.

Quelle : © Europäische Union, 2016 - EP

Studie - Export Taxes and Other Restrictions on Raw Materials and their Limitation through Free Trade Agreements: Impact on Developing Countries - 28-04-2016

Sun, 22 May 2016 22:00:00 GMT

Export taxes and restrictions take various forms and their effects may not be limited to the countries that apply them. Developing countries use such export taxes and restrictions in pursuit of development policy objectives. The effects on third countries depend on the market power of the country applying them and the nature of the restriction or tax. Large developing and emerging economies are the main users of these types of instruments, which are often used to counter the distortions due to tariff escalation. Multilateral trade rules do not forbid the use of export taxes, but they do apply to export restrictions. The treatment of these instruments in Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) negotiated by the EU varies, even between the different Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs). The EU should be flexible when it comes to the treatment of these instruments in trade agreements involving LDCs and small developing countries. In some cases, the EU should consider renegotiating existing agreements to remove strict prohibitions that can hamper development.

Quelle : © Europäische Union, 2016 - EP

Eingehende Analyse - Environmental and Social Standards in the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with West Africa: A Comparison to Other EPAs - 02-06-2015

Sun, 28 Jun 2015 22:00:00 GMT

Although negotiations on Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) were launched with seven regions in 2002 – with the expectation that they would be concluded within five years – only one full EPA was in force by March 2015: the agreement between the EU and the Caribbean Forum (CARIFORUM). A few interim EPAs are being implemented, including one for Eastern and Southern Africa. This briefing compares the principal provisions on social and environmental standards in the EPA with West Africa to the provisions in the CARIFORUM EPA and the interim EPA for Eastern and Southern Africa. In general, the CARIFORUM EPA contains the widest set of environmental and socials standards, as well as the most specific provisions, including on monitoring and dispute settlement procedures. While less comprehensive, the West Africa EPA also contains references to social and environmental objectives; the West Africa text confirms provisions in the Cotonou Partnership Agreement and includes a 'non-execution clause', which allows the EU to take measures in cases of human rights violations. The divergences between EPAs may well derive from different negotiating contexts. All EPAs will face a challenge when the Cotonou Agreement expires, as their non-execution clauses are linked to Cotonou.

Quelle : © Europäische Union, 2015 - EP

Studie - The Role of the EU in Promoting a Broader Transatlantic Partnership - 25-02-2013

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 06:35:15 GMT

The European Union should promote a new transatlantic partnership encompassing both North and South America. Such cooperation is necessary not only to respond to competitive challenges from countries like China and India, but also to help develop new markets in Africa and to promote strong partnerships across the South Atlantic. More important, a new transatlantic partnership is essential to protect the security of the Atlantic basin, to develop more sustainable use of energy resources, to protect the environment, to combat the drugs trade and human trafficking, and to tackle the problem of illegal immigration. �Ϸ��վ has a unique role to play in fostering a more inclusive Atlantic community. It can help to break down traditional patterns of North-South engagement, it can build capacity in Latin American regional organizations, it can encourage leadership within the Latin American community, and it can foster democracy and civil society across the South Atlantic. Moreover, the European �Ϸ��վ can help exploit the long experience of the European Union in collective decision-making, multinational democratic representation, information exchange, and shared best practice to lay the foundations for more effective cooperation at all levels of government across the Atlantic region.

Quelle : © Europäische Union, 2013 - EP

Studie - The Maritime Dimension of CSDP: Geostrategic Maritime Challenges and their Implications for the European Union - 29-01-2013

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 06:35:19 GMT

The global maritime security environment is in the midst of an important transformation, driven by a simultaneous intensification of global maritime flows, the growing interconnectedness of maritime regions, the diffusion of maritime power to emerging powers, and the rise of a number of maritime non-state actors. These changes are having a profound impact on the maritime security environment of the EU and its member states and require an upgrading of the maritime dimension of the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). This study analysis the impact that the changing maritime security context is having on the EU’s maritime neighbourhood and along the EU’s sea lines of communications (SLOCs) and takes stock of the EU’s existing policies and instruments in the maritime security domain. Based on this analysis, the study suggests that the EU requires a comprehensive maritime security strategy that creates synergies between the EU’s Integrated Maritime Policy and the maritime dimension of CSDP and that focuses more comprehensively on the security and management of global maritime flows and sea-based activities in the global maritime commons.

Quelle : © Europäische Union, 2013 - EP

Eingehende Analyse - Impact of EU Bioenergy Policy on Developing Countries - 02-03-2012

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 06:35:56 GMT

Against the background of the renewable energy targets of the European Union, the EUs interest in biomass has considerably increased in recent years, not only for energy crops grown on arable land but also for woody biomass. This brief analyses some of the main impact dimensions with regard to land access, energy and food security and environmental impacts in developing countries. The developing countries most likely to export woody biomass to feed Europe’s demand are west and central African countries as well as Latin American countries. While clear links between the increasing EU demand for wood for energy generation and impacts in developing countries, both negative and positive, need to be drawn on a project level, the additional demand for biomass worldwide will have macro effects. The rising demand for woody biomass energy is likely to raise the global price for wood, thus adding pressure on forests and other ecosystems and driving land use conflicts. More specific risks include deforestation when natural forests are replaced by monoculture plantations and long term impacts on local food and energy security. This brief concludes with potential approaches to tackle these impacts including biomass sustainability criteria, increased efforts towards resource efficiency and support for developing countries to build up good governance mechanisms.

Quelle : © Europäische Union, 2012 - EP

Studie - Policy Coherence for Development and the Effects of Eu Fisheries Policies on Development in West Africa - 29-08-2007

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 06:37:33 GMT