Decision on African Youth

DECISION ON AFRICAN YOUTH

The Executive Council:

1. TAKES NOTE of the Report on the 23^rd Conference of Heads of State and Government of Africa and France held in Bamako from 3 to 4 December 2005 under the theme: “ The African Youth: Vitality, Creativity and Aspirations”;

2. ALSO TAKES NOTE of the concerns and expectations of the African youth as contained in the Statement delivered to the Heads of State and Government of Africa and France by the participants in the African Youth Forum organized in Bamako from 8 to 9 December 2005;

3- UNDERSCORES the urgent need to restore hope and confidence to the African youth and define conditions that will enable them to fully play a greater role in Africa’s development;

4. WELCOMES the relevant recommendations arising from the 23^rd Conference of Heads of State and Government of Africa and France; and

5. SUPPORTS the initiative of the President of the Republic of France, Mr. Jacques Chirac, on the “solidarity levy on air tickets” to combat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and other related diseases;

6. INVITES the Commission to:

1. examine further the proposed establishment of an “Euro-African Investment Fund” within the context of the Africa-Europe Dialogue;

2. place immigration on the agenda of the Africa-Europe Dialogue, particularly of the Troika and the forthcoming Africa-Europe Summit;

3. sensitize the partners on the need for greater mobilization of financial resources to backstop national and regional efforts to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and other related diseases.