This blog is presenting an interesting combination of ââthe three Csâ â Culture, Climate and Conflict â at the forefront of the EUâs diplomacy. The question however arises namely how much can the EU afford to prioritise such complex âvalue drivenâ policy agendas in a rapidly changing world with more competition and uncertainty?
On 29 June, G20 Ministers responsible for development policy convened for the first time under the Italian Presidency. The meeting saw the adoption of a detailed and ambitious policy communique that in addition to prompting international action is also expected to further inform the deliberations of other G20 âtracksâ that may affect developing countries. It seems particularly strategic to us that the meeting of Finance Ministers at the end of this week in Venice picks up and further develops on these commitments.
Multilateralism has been in trouble for a while, particularlyâ âat the global level. Yet, the European Union (EU) and itsâ âmember states have remained among its staunchestâ âsupporters. Theâ ârecent EU Communication on Multilateralism, published inâ âFebruary 2021, seeks to lay out a European vision toâ âuphold, extend and reform the multilateral system.
Chloe Teevan – ECDPM Policy officer is the lead author of our ETTG paper A new multilateralism for the post-COVID world: What role for the EU-Africa partnership?
Together with a team of researchers from the other ETTG members she is proposing some key measures to improve cooperation and which can help on the reforming procedure for carrying forward the multilateral system.
âRestore Our Earth!â was the theme and rallying cry for this yearâs Earth Day on 22 April. This is not something that could be achieved on a single day. Yet, Earth Day 2021 might signal a greater turning of the tide as the world enters the âGreen Twenties.â
The European Union (EU) and the African Union (AU) maintain a long-standing partnership on peace and security which can be qualified as constructive. It is largely based on joint interests and objectives and is less contentious compared to other more challenging topics, such as migration and trade. The EUâs new seven-year budget for 2021 â 2027 introduces new ways of working which impact on how the EU will engage on peace and security in Africa. Most notable in this regard is the establishment of the European Peace Facility (EPF) which can potentially undermine the AUâs role in leading and coordinating peace and security measures on the continent. Moreover, these new developments take place against the backdrop of an overall troubled EU-AU relationship which suffers not only from the divergences in interests in key areas such as migration, trade and climate but also from the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, and global geopolitics.