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The Jean Monnet Network initiates work on developing sustainable societies and improving EU-Africa cooperation

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The Jean Monnet Network is a research and training project funded by the EU Commission. It brings together academic partners and institutions from five East African countries, the UK, Greece, and China.

It aims to improve EU-Africa cooperation, and contribute to building sustainable societies.

The Jean Monnet Network comprises partners from Bradford, Lancaster Management School and its Shandong campus, the University of the Peloponnese (Greece), USIU-Africa (Kenya), the Uongozi Institute of African Leadership for Sustainable Development (Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania) Gulu University (Uganda), the Protestant Institute for Arts and Social Sciences (Kigali, Rwanda), and the University of Burundi with its UNESCO Chair. It also has a partner from the University of Juba (South Sudan).

On 11 April 2017 , who holds the Jean Monnet Chair at the Faculty of Management & Law, organised the first meeting of the Jean Monnet Network in Nairobi (Kenya) - ‘The European Union, Africa and China in the Global Age – Sustainable Development through Tripartite Cooperation and Regional Integration: The Case of the East African Community (EU-EAC)’.

The meeting was followed on 12 April by the Network’s First International Workshop at the US International University – Africa (USIU-A) in Nairobi. This first event was a great success which brought together scholars from three continents, as well as leaders from the East African community and from the EU Delegation in Kenya.

From 30 May to 2 June Jean-Marc led a delegation of Jean Monnet Professors to Arusha (Tanzania) to hold consultations with top level officials of the East African Community (EAC), and to develop training and research cooperation.

First, Jean-Marc and Prof. Wei Shen (Lancaster / Shandong) met with Ambassador Libérat Mfumukeko, Secretary General of the East African Community, to discuss how the Jean Monnet Network can contribute to the four regional integration pillars in East Africa – Customs Union, Common Market, Monetary Union, and Political Federation. Ambassador Mfumukeko displayed a strong interest in future collaboration.

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On 2 June, Jean-Marc, accompanied by Prof. Wei Shen, Prof. Asteris Huliaras (Corinth, Greece) and Moses Onyango (USIU-Africa in Nairobi, Kenya), met Rt Hon Daniel F. Kidega, Speaker of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA).

The Speaker kindly agreed to address the forthcoming International Conference on the European Union and the East African Community due to take place in Tanzania next year, as well as the Third International Research Workshop in Gulu, Northern Uganda. Jean-Marc and his delegation were honoured to receive a special invitation to attend the concluding Dinner of the 3rd East African Legislative Assembly (EALA).

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Finally, Jean-Marc and his team also had fruitful talks with the German Corporation for International cooperation, a German development agency based in Arusha, who have kindly offered to collaborate on the initiative and provide logistical support in organising a training session for the EAC, and the Second International Workshop at the EAC in September.

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