"A comprehensive, long-term energy partnership is in all parties' interest," stated German Development Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul at the end of the Africa-Europe Energy Forum in Berlin. "The aim must be to improve the climate for investment, to increase the amount invested in energy and to bring transparency to oil and gas revenues. Simultaneously, the development of renewable energy must be reinforced in view of climate change."
At the invitation of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the European Commission, about 300 experts from Europe and Africa met to help intensify cooperation between Europe and Africa in the energy sector. The two-day dialogue produced recommendations which will be on the agenda of the Council of the European Union in May. It is envisaged to agree on a partnership for sustainable energy at the Lisbon EU-Africa summit in fall 2007.
The conference produced the following recommendations:
Strengthen cooperation between Africa and Europe. Africa is rich in energy sources. Strengthening cooperation between Africa and Europe is mutually beneficial: reliable energy supply, climate protection and sustained poverty reduction are goals that can only be reached in a joint effort. Expanding the use of renewable and particularly efficient energy sources can make a major contribution in this regard.
Financing. The financial resources provided through development cooperation are not sufficient to meet Africa's energy needs. So new paths must be pursued to provide financing: African resources, especially from oil sales, donor resources and private-sector resources must all be used. More funding for energy should be made available at the EU level.
Climate change. Africa is suffering particularly under climate change, even though the continent is contributing very little to emissions that harm the climate. Natural disasters, deteriorating water supply, and an increase in tropical diseases are just some of the consequences. This is an area in which the industrialized countries in particular are called upon to help finance the necessary adaptation efforts.
There was agreement that it is not only cooperation between Africa and Europe but also regional cooperation and solidarity within Africa that needs to be strengthened and supported.
