Foreign Affairs Council (Development), 26/11/2018, 26 November 2018

Main results

Gender and human rights

One day after the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, development ministers welcomed Nobel Peace Prize laureates Nadia Murad and Dr. Denis Mukwege for a discussion on gender and human rights. This gave an opportunity to hear their messages and to identify ways in which the EU and its member states could do more to prevent gender-based violence. 

It is a pleasure and an honour to welcome Nadia Murad and Denis Mukwege to Brussels for the development ministers' meeting. We have always been at their sides, proudly supporting their work in their respective circumstances and countries. Federica Mogherini, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

• EU supports the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize laureates, Nadia Murad and Dr. Denis Mukwege

Africa - Europe alliance

The Council exchanged views on the Africa - Europe alliance for sustainable investment and jobs. The discussion took place less than a month before the high-level Africa-Europe forum (Vienna, 17-18 December) and the EU-AU ministerial meeting (21-22 January 2019).

Ministers expressed their support for the initiative and its four strands of action: improving the investment climate, de-risking, strengthening support for skills and education, and supporting economic integration and market-building. They discussed ways in which member states can be actively involved in this new Africa - Europe alliance and the importance of securing coordination and coherence on the ground.

As the EU remains Africa's main partner, ministers highlighted the need to ensure that both African and European stakeholders are more aware of the close relationship between the two continents.

• Towards a new 'Africa - Europe Alliance' to deepen economic relations and boost investment and jobs (European Commission press release, 12/09/2018)

Future financial architecture for development

The Council discussed the future financial architecture for development. Ministers discussed the state of play of the multiannual financial framework (MFF) negotiations on the neighbourhood, development and international cooperation instrument (NDICI) and in particular on the future European architecture for investment outside the EU.

They also discussed the need for the future financial framework to ensure sufficient flexibility while ensuring that the EU priorities on its neighbourhood and Africa are fully reflected. Ministers also heard a presentation by the President of the European Investment Bank Werner Hoyer on European external investments. They acknowledged the valuable work the EIB was doing in supporting the EU's external policy.

• Proposal for new instruments for EU external action (European Commission press release, 14/06/2018)