BRUSSELS — The European Commission’s development department has a headache. The new president of the EU executive, Ursula von der Leyen, wants it to deliver “a new comprehensive strategy with Africa” as soon as possible. The problem is, even excluding last year’s Biarritz Declaration for a G7 & Africa Partnership, the commission already has 2018’s Africa-Europe Alliance for Sustainable Investment and Jobs. The mandate for that alliance was said to be the summit declaration with the African Union in Abidjan in November 2017. And all of the above are still framed by the Joint Africa-EU Strategy of 2007.
Josep Borrell, the EU foreign affairs chief, is scheduled to present the upcoming strategy for adoption by leaders of the commission on March 10, allowing Von der Leyen to claim it among the achievements of her first 100 days. But that speed is causing friction inside the commission, EU officials told Devex, with the foreign-facing departments telling Von der Leyen’s team that going too fast leaves little time to consult with African leaders.
Von der Leyen’s choice of Addis Ababa, home of the African Union, for her first trip outside Europe last month was meant to send the message that the continent will be a priority for her five-year term. “I am not here to present some grand plan for Africa,” Von der Leyen told AU Commission President Moussa Faki. “I am here first and foremost to listen.”