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1.
The Council adopts today the annexed Horn of Africa Regional
Action Plan 2015-2020 that outlines the European Union (EU)'s
comprehensive approach to addressing key issues throughout the region.
As with the EU Horn of Africa Strategic Framework, adopted in November
2011, this Regional Action Plan reasserts the importance which the EU
attaches to continuing close co-operation with partners across the
region in using all available instruments to support and encourage
peace, stability, sustainable growth and prosperity throughout the Horn
of Africa. Since 2011, the EU has taken substantial steps - through
political dialogue and active engagement, Common Security and Defence
Policy (CSDP) missions and targeted development co-operation assistance
to implement the strategic framework. Persistent poverty, social
grievance, unaccountable governance, corruption, absence of the rule of
law, disputes over borders or water resources, the effects of climate
change, proliferation of small arms and weak regional co-operation were
already identified in the Strategic Framework of 2011 as key challenges,
and until today despite progress in many respects, they remain entirely
relevant. Yet since then, three issues affecting EU interests in the
region have gained particular salience: the influence of the wider
region on the Horn of Africa, violent extremism and migration and forced
displacement.
2.
The Council underlines that in line with the objectives set out
in the Strategic Framework, and taking into account the new challenges
in the region, the EU should give priority to the following five groups
of actions in the period 2015-2020, namely: regional security and
stability, migration and forced displacement, counter-radicalisation and
violent extremism , youth and employment, and human rights, rule of law
and democratic governance. Eradication of poverty is a precondition to
addressing these challenges effectively and will remain the central
objective of the EU's development co-operation. Moreover, the EU will
work with all actors in the region to ensure respect for international
humanitarian law, and to promote the role of women in peacebuilding and
conflict resolution. Addressing these challenges will require
interventions in peripheral regions and across borders, and will demand a
better synchronised approach to the political, development, economic,
migration, gender-based and security aspects of these issues. The
implementation of the Regional Action Plan will also reinforce inter and
intra-regional co-operation between all relevant partners. The Action
Plan will be implemented inter alia through the EU Trust Fund to be presented at the Valletta Summit on Migration on 11-12 November 2015.
3.
The EU reiterates its readiness to continue working closely with the
countries and regional organisations of the Horn of Africa to support,
including through capacity building, their efforts to achieve peace,
security and development. The implementation of the Regional Action Plan
will be carried out with the full ownership and under the primary
responsibility of the countries concerned, and in co-ordination with key
international and regional organisations and other partners, such as
the United Nations (UN), the African Union (AU), the Intergovernmental
Authority on Development (IGAD), the East African Community (EAC), the
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The EU underlines the importance of
ensuring close international and regional co-ordination, including
through the work of the EU Special Representative for the Horn of
Africa, in order to create synergies in the implementation of all
relevant initiatives.
4.
The Council invites the High Representative and the Commission, in
close consultation with Member States, to start implementing the Horn of
Africa Regional Action Plan, in co-operation with the countries of the
region, and key international partners. The Council will revert to the
matter as appropriate, and at least once a year.
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