Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The EU and Africa: Regionalism and Interregionalism Beyond Institutions

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Interregionalism across the Atlantic Space

Part of the book series: United Nations University Series on Regionalism ((UNSR,volume 15))

Abstract

This chapter aims at mapping relevant trends of interregionalism between Europe and Africa, by looking at the historical evolution and in light of recent developments. The analysis focuses on institutionalized interregionalism between the European Union (EU) and the African Union (AU), as well as regional organizations in Southern, West and East Africa in the three sectors of trade; security; and environment. It also goes beyond by addressing and comparing formal and informal, state and non-state, patterns of integration at the transnational level. The chapter concludes that it appears that the EU has heavily influenced the development of regionalism in Africa mainly through teaching and support. The relationship between the EU and African regions is fundamentally characterized by the former influencing regional policy of, and providing funds and capacity building to, the latter.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Acharya, A. (2012). Comparative regionalism: A field whose time has come? The International Spectator, 47(1), 3–15.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Africa-EU Intercontinental Civil Society Forum. (2010). Communiqué: First Africa-EU Intercontinental Civil Society Forum, 10 November, Cairo. http://www.africa-eu-partnership.org/en/newsroom/all-news/first-africa-eu-intercontinental-civil-society-forum-communique. Accessed 3 Mar 2016.

  • Africa-EU Intercontinental Civil Society Forum. (2013). Report of the second Africa-EU Civil Society Forum, Brussels, Belgium, October 23–25, 2013. http://gnrd.net/UserFiles/File/SECON_AU-EU_CSOs_FORUM_PROCEEDINGS.pdf. Accessed 1 Mar 2016.

  • Africa-EU Partnership (2017). European Union supports civil society’s voice across Africa. http://www.africa-eu-partnership.org/en/newsroom/all-news/european-union-supports-civil-societys-voice-across-africa. Accessed 31 Mar 2017.

  • African Union Commission. (2015). Agenda 2063: The Africa we want. Popular version, September 2015. http://agenda2063.au.int/en/sites/default/files/03_Agenda2063_popular_version_ENG%2021SEP15-3.pdf. Accessed 1 Mar 2016.

  • Ba, A. Y. (2006). La contribution de l’UnionAfricaine au Maintien de la Paix. Revue de droit international et de droit comparé, 83(3), 197–231.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bachmann, V., & Sidaway, J. M. (2010). African regional integration and European involvement: External agents in the East African Community. South African Geographical Journal, 92(1), 1–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baert, F., Scaramagli, T., & Soderbaum, F. (Eds.). (2014). Intersecting interregionalism. Regions, global governance and the EU. Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buzdugan, S. R. (2013). Regionalism from without: External involvement of the EU in regionalism in southern Africa. Review of International Political Economy, 20(4), 917–946.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chafer, T., & Stoddard, E. (2014). The EU, ECOWAS and the multiple dimensions of European-West African relations. In A. B. Akoutou, R. Sohn, M. Vogl, & D. Yeboah (Eds.), Understanding regional integration in West Africa- a multi-thematic and comparative analysis. WAI-ZEI paper series (pp. 41–69). Achada Santo António/Bonn: West Africa Institute/Center for European Integration Studies.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chigwada, T., & Pamacheche, F. (2012). Status and progress of SADC regional trade integration. In M. Tekere (Ed.), Regional trade integration, economic growth and poverty reduction in Southern Africa (pp. 77–106). Pretoria: Africa Institute of South Africa.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Zamaróczy, N. (2012). Playing Boomerang. East African elites, external actors, and the contestation of East African regionalism. Paper delivered at the international studies association annual conference, San Diego, 1–5 April 2012.

    Google Scholar 

  • Del Biondo, K. (2011). EU aid conditionality in ACP countries: Explaining inconsistency in EU sanctions practice. Journal of Contemporary European Research, 7(3), 380–395.

    Google Scholar 

  • Delputte, S., & Söderbaum, F. (2012). European aid coordination in Africa: Is the commission calling the tune? In S. Gänzle, S. Grimm, & D. Makhan (Eds.), The European Union and global development (pp. 37–56). New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • European Centre for Development Policy Management. (2014). Economic partnership agreements: Frequently asked questions, Fiche technique. http://ecdpm.org/wp-content/uploads/ECDPM-17-10-14-EPA-QA.pdf. Accessed 22 June 2015.

  • European Commission. (2013). Environment. Brussels: EC. http://europa.eu/pol/env/flipbook/en/files/environment.pdf. Accessed 22 June 2015.

  • European Commission. (2015). African peace facility. Brussels: EC. https://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/regions/africa/continental-cooperation/african-peace-facility_en. Accessed 29 Dec 2015.

  • European External Action Service. (2015). EU relations with South Africa. http://eeas.europa.eu/south_africa/index_en.htm. Accessed 29 Dec 2015.

  • European Parliament. (2008). The application of human rights conditionality in the EU’s bilateral trade agreements and other trade arrangements with third countries. Strasbourg: European Parliament. http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/etudes/join/2008/406991/EXPO-INTA_ET(2008)406991_EN.pdf. Accessed 22 June 2015.

  • European Union. (2008a). Regional strategy paper and regional indicative programme 2008–2013 for the region of Western Africa. Brussels: European Commission.

    Google Scholar 

  • European Union. (2008b). Regional strategy paper and regional indicative programme 2008–2013 for the region of Eastern and Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean. Brussels: European Commission.

    Google Scholar 

  • European Union. (2015a). Regional indicative programme for Western Africa 2014–2020. Brussels: European Commission.

    Google Scholar 

  • European Union. (2015b). Regional indicative programme Eastern Africa, Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean. Brussels: European Commission.

    Google Scholar 

  • European Union and African Union. (2007). The Africa-EU strategic partnership: A joint Africa-EU strategy and action plan. Lisbon, 8–9 December 2007, Brussels: European Commission. http://www.africa-eu-partnership.org/sites/default/files/documents/eas2007_joint_strategy_en.pdf. Accessed 22 June 2015.

  • European Union-The African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of Statea (EU-ACP). (2000). Cotonou agreement. Brussels: European Commission. http://www.acp.int/sites/acpsec.waw.be/files/Cotonou2000.pdf. Accessed 22 June 2015.

  • Faust, J. (2013). Is the earth flat or is it a cube? European foreign aid, political conditionality and democracy. German Development Institute Briefing Paper. http://www.die-gdi.de/uploads/media/BriefingPaper_24.2013.pdf. Accessed 22 June 2015.

  • Francis, D. J. (2006). Uniting Africa: Building regional peace and security systems. Aldershot: Ashgate.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gandois, H. (2014). Economic community of West African States. In L. Levi, G. Finizio, & N. Vallinoto (Eds.), Democratization of international institutions (pp. 196–206). London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Geddes, A., & Jordan, A. (2012). Migration as adaptation? Exploring the scope for coordinating environmental and migration policies in the European Union. Enviroment and Planning C: Government and Policy, 30, 1029–1044.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Godsäter, A. (2013). Regional environmental governance in the Lake Victoria region: The role of civil society. African Studies, 72(1), 64–85.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Godsäter, A. (2016). Civil society regionalization in Southern Africa: The cases of trade and HIV/AIDS. Abingdon: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haas, E. B. (1961). International integration: The European and the universal process. International Organization, 15(3), 366–392.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hartmann, C. (2013). Governance transfer by the economic community of West African States (ECOWAS) (SFB-Governance Working Paper Series No. 47). Bonn: DFG Collaborative Research.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hurrell, A. (2007). One world? Many worlds? The place of regions in the study of international society. International Affairs, 83(1), 127–146.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hurt, S. R. (2012). The EU-SADC economic partnership agreement negotiations: ‘Locking in’ the neoliberal development model in Southern Africa? Third World Quarterly, 33(3), 495–510.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Igue, J. (2011). Economic integration in West Africa. In C. Tolentino & M. Vogl (Eds.), Sustainable regional integration in West Africa (Discussion Paper C208). Bonn: Center for European Integration Studies.

    Google Scholar 

  • Iheduru, O. C. (2014). Civil society and regional integration in West Africa: Partners, legitimizers, and counter-hegemonic actors. In L. Fioramonti (Ed.), Civil society and world regions. Lanham: Lexington.

    Google Scholar 

  • IOM. (2010). Informal cross-border trade sector report. February 2010. Geneva: IOM. http://iom.org.za/web/images/publications/icbt.pdf. Accessed 25 Oct 2012.

  • Kimani, N. (2007). Reinvention of environmental governance in East Africa: Explanatory and normative dimensions. PhD thesis, Australian National University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lightfoot, S. (2013). Climate change and the Africa-EU Strategy: Coherence, leadership and the ‘greening’ of development. In M. Carbone (Ed.), The European Union in Africa. Manchester: Manchester University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lorenz-carl, U. (2013). When the ‘not so weak’ Bargain with the ‘not so strong’: Whose agency matters in the economic partnership negotiations? In U. Lorenz-carl & M. Rempe (Eds.), Mapping agency. Comparing regionalisms in Africa (pp. 61–76). Aldershot: Ashgate.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lucia, E. L. (2012). A tool for security: How is the EU fostering and shaping ECOWAS security and defense regionalization process? (GR: EEN Working Paper No. 17). Coventry: University of Warwick.

    Google Scholar 

  • Makhan, D. (2009). Linking EU trade and development policies: Lessons from the ACP-EU trade negotiations on economic partnership agreements. Bonn: German Development Institute. http://www.die-gdi.de/uploads/media/Studies_50.pdf. Accessed 22 June 2015.

  • Marinov, E. (2013). Impact of the European Union on regional integration in Africa (MPRA Paper No. 60313). Sofia: Economic Research Institute at BAS.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matambalya, F. A. S. T. (2012). The East African community: Can it be a model for Africa’s integratioin process? In K. Mengisteab & R. Bereketeab (Eds.), Regional integration, identity & citizenship in the Greater Horn of Africa (pp. 195–235). Woodbridge: James Currey.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matlosa, K. (2006). The role of political parties in regional integration in the SADC region. In A. Bösl, W. Breytenbach, T. Hartzenberg, C. McCarthy, & K. Schade (Eds.), Monitoring regional integration in southern Africa yearbook (Vol. 6, pp. 116–139). Stellenbosch: Trade Law Centre for Southern Africa.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCarthy, C. (2010). Reconsidering regional integration in sub-Saharan Africa. In C. McCarthy, J. B. Cronjé, W. Denner, T. Fundira, W. Mwanza, & E. Bursvik (Eds.), Supporting regional integration in East and Southern Africa – Review of select issues (pp. 1–26). Trade Law Centre for Southern Africa: Stellenbosch.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miranda, V. V., Pirozzi, N., & Schäfer, K. (2012). Towards a stronger Africa-EU cooperation on peace and security: The role of African regional organizations and civil society (IAI Working Papers No. 28). http://www.iai.it/sites/default/files/iaiwp1228.pdf. Accessed 23 June 2015.

  • NEPAD. (2003). Action Plan for the environment initiative. Addis-Abeba: NEPAD. http://www.nepad.org/system/files/Environment%20Action%20Plan.pdf. Accessed 23 June 2015.

  • Nivet, B. (2006). Security by proxy? The EU and (sub-)regionalorganisations: The case of ECOWAS (Occasional Paper No. 6). Paris: European Union Institute for Security Studies.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nixdorf, L. (2013). Regional integration and informal cross-border trade in the East African community. In U. Lorenz-Carl & M. Rempe (Eds.), Mapping agency. Comparing regionalisms in Africa (pp. 133–147). Aldershot: Ashgate.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ochwada, H. (2013). The history and politics of regionalism and integration in East Africa. In K. Omeje & T. R. Hepner (Eds.), Conflict and peacebuilding in the African Great Lakes region (pp. 47–64). Bloomington: Indiana University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Okurut, T. O., & Othero, D. M. (2012). A holistic approach to natural resource management: A case of Lake Victoria Basin. In V. I. Grover & G. Kraatzberg (Eds.), Great Lakes: Lessons in participatory governance (pp. 349–363). Boca Raton: CRC Press.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Oloruntoba, S. (2013). The political economy of regional integration and development in Africa: Rethinking the theoretical models. Paper presented at the African economic conference. Johannesburg, 28–30 October 2013. http://www.afdb.org/en/aec-2013/papers/paper/the-political-economy-of-regional-integration-and-development-in-africa-rethinking-the-theoretical-models-1038/. Accessed 2 Mar 2016.

  • Overseas Development Institute. (2013). The history, impact and political economy of barriers to food trade in sub-Saharan Africa: An analytical review. ODI Report, December 2013. London: ODI. http://www.odi.org/sites/odi.org.uk/files/odi-assets/publications-opinion-files/8803.pdf. Accessed 2 Mar 2016.

  • Paterson, M. (2012). The African Union at ten: Problems, progress, and prospects. International colloquium report. Berlin, 30–31 August 2012. Cape Town/Berlin: Centre for Conflict Resolution/Friedrich Ebert Stiftung. https://www.fes.de/afrika/content/downloads/AU_Report_FINAL.pdf. Accessed 2 Mar 2016.

  • Piccolino, G, & Minou S. (2014). The EU and regional integration in West Africa: What effects on conflict resolution and transformation? (Working Paper Series No. 5). Pretoria: Centre for the Study of Governance Innovation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pirozzi, N. (2009). EU support to African security architecture: Funding and training components (Occasional Papers No.76). Paris: EU Institute for Security Studies. http://www.iss.europa.eu/uploads/media/op76.pdf. Accessed 23 June 2015.

  • Pirozzi, N. (2015). EU crisis management after Lisbon: A new model to address security challenges in the 21st century? Cambridge: Intersentia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Qobo, M. (2012). The European Union. In C. Saunders, C. Dzinesa, A. Gwinyayi, & D. Nagar (Eds.), Region-building in Southern Africa (pp. 251–263). London: Zed Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rudloff, B., & Weinhardt, C. (2011). Economic partnership agreements between the EU and the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States. SWP Comments 3. Berlin: German Institute for International and Security Affairs. http://www.swp-berlin.org/fileadmin/contents/products/comments/2011C03_rff_wht_ks.pdf. Accessed 23 June 2015.

  • Sicurelli, D. (2013). Africa-EU partnership on climate change and the environment. In J. Mangala (Ed.), Africa and the European Union. A strategic partnership (pp. 149–169). New York: Palgrave Macmillian.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Silvestre, C. (2009). EU-AU relations: What role for civil society? Brussles: Open Society Institute. http://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/sites/default/files/silvestre_20090409.pdf. Accessed 23 June 2015.

  • Söderbaum, F. (2001). Turbulent regionalization in West Africa. In M. Schultz, J. Michael, J. Öjendal, & F. Söderbaum (Eds.), Regionalisation in a globalizing world (pp. 61–81). London: Zed Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Söderbaum, F. (2004). The political economy of regionalism. The case of Southern Africa. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Theron, S., Ntasano, E. C. (2014). The EU, regional co-operation and conflict in the Great Lakes Region (Working Paper Series, No. 7). Pretoria: Centre for the Study of Governance Innovation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tjønneland, E. (2008). From aid effectiveness to poverty reduction: Is foreign donor support to SADC improving? (Vol. 4). Gaborone: Lightbooks.

    Google Scholar 

  • TRALAC. (2012). The regional indicative strategic development plan: SADC’s trade-led integration agenda. How is SADC doing? Trade Law Centre (TRALAC Trade Brief No. S12TBO2). http://www.tralac.org/files/2012/04/S12TB022012-SADC-RISDP-SADC-agenda-20120418.pdf. Accessed 23 June 2015.

  • UNEP. (n.d.). Increased role of civil society, Africa environment outlook 2. Nairobi: UNEP. http://www.unep.org/dewa/Africa/publications/AEO-2/content/019.htm. Accessed 23 June 2015.

  • Van Langenhove, L. (2012). Why we need to ‘unpack’ regions to compare them more effectively. The International Spectator, 47(1), 16–29.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wiener, A., & Diez, T. (Eds.). (2004). European integration theory. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yusuff, O. S. (2014). Gender dimensions of informal cross border trade in West-African Sub-Regiona (ECOWAS) borders. International Letters of Social and Humanistic Sciences, 18, 19–33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI), Rome, Italy

    Nicoletta Pirozzi

  2. School of Global Studies, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden

    Andréas Litsegård

  3. Center for the Study of Governance Innovation, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa

    Andréas Litsegård

Authors
  1. Nicoletta Pirozzi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Andréas Litsegård
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nicoletta Pirozzi .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for the Study of Governance Innovation, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa

    Frank Mattheis

  2. School of Global Studies, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden

    Andréas Litsegård

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Pirozzi, N., Litsegård, A. (2018). The EU and Africa: Regionalism and Interregionalism Beyond Institutions. In: Mattheis, F., Litsegård, A. (eds) Interregionalism across the Atlantic Space. United Nations University Series on Regionalism, vol 15. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-62908-7_5

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation