Africa Eu Partnership

Historical record · Summit archive

3rd Africa–Europe Summit, 2010

A retrospective guide to the meeting held in Libya on 29–30 August 2010, its principal policy themes and the programme that surrounded it.

This page describes a completed event. Plans and expected outcomes are presented as part of the 2010 record, not as current commitments.

Coastal city and conference setting beside the Mediterranean

The summit took place in Libya against a wider 2010 agenda spanning development, climate and international cooperation.

Why the meeting mattered

The 2010 summit brought African and European heads of state and government together for the third continent-level meeting in the series. It reviewed progress made since the 2007 Lisbon summit and considered how broad strategic ambitions could be translated into practical cooperation.

The agenda sat between major international discussions on development and climate policy. Economic growth and development, peace and security, the Millennium Development Goals and climate change were among the central subjects identified for discussion.

From review to a second action plan

A principal task was consideration of the second action plan for 2011–2013. Preparatory work examined results under the existing thematic partnerships, implementation arrangements and where clearer regional, continental or international value could be demonstrated.

The process also considered operational improvements. The historical material shows an effort to balance ambition with practical delivery while building on roadmaps and lessons from the preceding years.

The summit sequence

Three meetings established the early continent-level framework and moved it from initial political dialogue toward review and implementation.

First summit, Cairo

The inaugural meeting established a new continent-level channel for dialogue between African and European leaders.

Second summit, Lisbon

The second meeting adopted a joint strategy and framed the relationship around longer-term cooperation rather than a conventional donor model.

Third summit, Libya

The third meeting reviewed implementation and focused on the priorities and working arrangements for the following action-plan period.

Core themes in the record

The archived preparations grouped discussion around four large policy areas with implications for both continents.

01 · ECONOMY

Growth and development

Discussion concerned economic opportunity, investment, regional integration and the practical conditions needed to support durable development.

02 · STABILITY

Peace and security

The agenda linked political cooperation with conflict prevention, institutional capacity and shared responses to security challenges.

03 · DEVELOPMENT

Global development goals

The summit took place during international review of progress toward the development goals then in force.

04 · ENVIRONMENT

Climate change

Climate policy, environmental monitoring and preparation for international negotiations formed part of the wider context.

Participation beyond government

The preparations treated regional and sub-regional economic communities as important participants in African integration. Parliaments, civil society organisations, youth groups, researchers, universities, trade unions and businesses were also involved through meetings associated with the summit.

This broader programme explored parliamentary recommendations, youth participation, higher education and academic mobility, culture, Earth observation, energy, food safety, governance and information technology research. These events did not all have the same status, but together they show the range of communities seeking to influence the policy process.

Education and Earth observation

Higher-education discussions considered policy, regulation, capacity and academic mobility. Environmental sessions examined how coordinated Earth-observation systems could support decisions concerning land, water, climate and security.

Associated programme

Explore surviving pages about meetings organised around the summit. Titles below reflect their archived subject matter.

Economy

Business forum

Dialogue on investment, policy conditions and commercial cooperation.

Participation

Youth summit

A forum for youth organisations to discuss regional and global cooperation.

Primary material

2010 deliverables

A dated document in the Recorded outlines key deliverables identified under the joint strategy before the summit. Read it as a record of its period and distinguish stated plans from verified results.

Open the archived PDF

More summit records

Continue through the archived summit and newsroom structure preserved on the site.

Recorded questions

Essential context for interpreting this page and its linked records.

When and where was the third summit held?

It was held in Libya on 29–30 August 2010.

What subjects shaped the agenda?

The preparations highlighted economic growth and development, peace and security, the development goals then in force and climate change.

What was the action plan?

The summit process considered a second action plan covering 2011–2013. It was intended to organise priorities and implementation under the broader strategy.

Were groups outside government involved?

Yes. Associated meetings involved participants from parliaments, youth organisations, civil society, research, higher education, labour and business, among other fields.

Does this page describe current policy?

No. It is an editorial summary of a completed 2010 event. Historical plans should not be interpreted as current commitments.

Where can I find related documents?

Use the archived PDF above and the site’s documents section. Check the date, issuing body and status of each record before relying on it.