The EESC hosted a debate on development cooperation policy at its December plenary session, stressing that it is essential to improve relations between the EU and African civil society in order to progress from help to development to partnership.

Relations between European and African civil society must be at the heart of the EU-ACP Partnership Agreement, in which continued – and even increased – engagement by the EESC and its bodies should be acknowledged as a central element. Only in this way can EU civil society help African civil society become a reliable and trustworthy partner for investors.

EESC president Luca Jahier expressed his hope that current negotiations will provide a stronger role for organised civil society and for the EESC. "The future of Africa is the future of Europe. We need a new African Renaissance", said Jahier.

Jutta Urpilainen, European Commissioner for International Partnerships, highlighted the important work carried out by civil society organisations, and maintained that "The European development model must evolve with global realities. We all need to be involved in and committed to the Green Deal". Isabelle A. J. Durant, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), mentioned that multilateral agreements could help countries that had difficulties with international trade and that they were the only way to achieve a win-win situation for all actors involved. (dgf)