The European Commission has begun preparations for the 3rd Africa-EU Summit, which will take place 29 – 30 November 2010 in Libya. The key issues at the summit will be the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), following on from the UN high level MDG summit in New York in September, and climate change, ahead of the Cancun Conference at the beginning of September.

It is expected that the Second Action Plan (2011-13) of the Joint Africa-EU Strategy will be adopted during the Summit. The Commission’s website states: “In the run-up of the Summit, the right balance of ambition and realism is required. The new Action Plan will build on existing partnership roadmaps and take into account the experience and results of the past years.”

In keeping with the Commission’s policy of promoting a “people centred partnership”, stakeholders from African regional and sub-regional economic communities (RECs), parliaments, civil society, trade unions and the private sector are invited to engage with the process. A series of side events for civil society representatives will be organised to coincide with the summit.

For more information see: EC > Development > I-Center