Koen Vervaeke

Koen Vervaeke, EU Special Representative to the African Union

Mr Koen Vervaeke
 

Mission statement of Koen Vervaeke

The African Union (AU) is a strategic continental actor and a key international partner of the European Union. In the few years since its creation in 2002 the AU has become a key player in crisis management and the promotion of peace, stability, democracy and development. In some areas, including agriculture and environment, the AU acts as a standard setter, while in other areas, such as migration, it increasingly performs the role of a spokesperson for the African continent.

At the Second EU/Africa Summit on 8/9 December 2007 in Lisbon the European Union and Africa adopted the Joint Africa/EU Strategy which stipulates that the two sides want to move beyond donor/recipient patterns and want work together on the basis of jointly identified mutual and complementary interests and benefits. More than in the past, European Union support will work towards Africa-led and Africa-owned approaches and strengthen the primary responsibility of African partners for peace and security, democratic governance, respect for human rights, and economic and social development.

In addition to the continued efforts in support of peace and security, governance and human rights, trade and regional and continental integration in Africa, and other key development issues, the Joint Strategy defines the objectives of reinforcing and elevating the EU-Africa political partnership, to jointly address global challenges such as climate change or energy security and sustainability, and to facilitate and promote a broad-based and wide-ranging people-centered partnership for all people in Africa and Europe.

In this context the Council and the Commission have decided to appoint me as both the European Union Special Representative and Head of Delegation of the European Commission Delegation to the AU in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. This appointment reflects the common will of the two Institutions to combine all the instruments of the EU and thereby ensure a coherent approach towards Africa at all levels. My role will be in particular to contribute to the implementation of the common agenda with Africa as reflected in the Joint Strategy and its First Action Plan. To this end my team and I will closely cooperate not only with the African Union but also with diplomatic missions of the European Union Member States and with all other interested international governmental and non-governmental actors in Addis Ababa.