1,469
Views
0
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Articles

The EU–South Africa Strategic Partnership and global environmental governance: Towards effective multilateralism after Copenhagen?

ORCID Icon &
Pages 229-248 | Published online: 06 Jul 2017
 

ABSTRACT

This paper uses an analytical framework drawn from organisational studies to unpack and evaluate climate change relations under the EU–South Africa Strategic Partnership. The article finds that, while the EU and South Africa share a common purpose and high-level climate goals, many of the formal organisational structures set up under the partnership to tackle climate change and the environment are weak and have fallen into disuse. At the same time several factors outside of the strategic partnership, such as South Africa's hosting of the Durban climate change meeting, have played a significant role in promoting climate cooperation between the two partners. Therefore, while the strategic partnership creates an additional opportunity for climate cooperation, it is by no means the only or even the most important instrument in the EU's foreign policy tool box for negotiation and dialogue.

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Lesley Masters and three anonymous reviewers for their helpful suggestions on previous drafts of this article. We would also like to thank the EU and South African officials who kindly agreed to be interviewed as part of this research.

Notes

1. Gratius S, Can EU Strategic Partnerships Deepen Multilateralism? FRIDE Working Paper, 109. Madrid: FRIDE, September 2012.

2. Groenleer MLP & LG van Schaik, ‘United we stand? The European Union's international actorness in the cases of the International Criminal Court and the Kyoto Protocol’, Journal of Common Market Studies, 45.5, 2007, pp. 969–98.

3. Keukeleire S & B Hooijmaaijers, ‘The BRICS and other emerging power alliances and multilateral organizations in the Asia-Pacific and the Global South: Challenges for the European Union and its view on multilateralism’, Journal of Common Market Studies, 52.3, 2014, pp. 582–99.

4. Bäckstrand K & O Elgström, ‘The EU's role in climate change negotiations: from leader to “leadiator”’, Journal of European Public Policy, 20.10, 2013, pp. 1369–86.

5. EEAS and European Commission, ‘Towards a renewed and strengthened EU climate diplomacy’, Joint Reflection Paper, 1. Brussels, July 2011.

6. Ibid., p. 4.

7. Ibid., p. 5.

8. BASIC countries comprise Brazil, South Africa, India and China.

9. European Commission, Towards an EU–South Africa Strategic Partnership, COM (2006) 347. Brussels, European Commission, 2006.

10. Oberthür S & L Groen, ‘The EU and South Africa: Building bridges’, in Grevi G & T Renard (eds) Hot Issues, Cold Shoulders, Lukewarm Partners: EU Strategic Partnerships and Climate Change. European Strategic Partnerships Observatory Report 2. November 2012. FRIDE: Madrid.

11. Wilkins TS, ‘Russo–Chinese Strategic Partnership: A new form of security cooperation?’ Contemporary Security Policy, 29.2, 2008, pp. 358–83.

12. Grevi G, Making EU Strategic Partnerships Effective. FRIDE Working Paper, 105. Madrid: FRIDE, 2010.

13. Geldenhuys D, ‘The comprehensive strategic partnerships between South Africa and Russia,’ Strategic Review for Southern Africa, 37.2, 2015, p. 121.

14. Blanco L ,‘The functions of “strategic partnership” in European Union foreign policy discourse’, Cambridge Review of International Affairs, 29.1, 2016, pp. 38–9.

15. Wilkins TS, ‘Russo–Chinese strategic partnership: A new form of security cooperation?’, Contemporary Security Policy, 29.2, 2008, pp. 358–83.

16. Ibid., p. 366.

17. Ibid., p. 366.

18. European Commission, Towards an EU–South Africa Strategic Partnership, COM (2006) 347. Brussels, European Commission, 2006, p. 9.

19. Council of the European Union, The South Africa–European Union Strategic Partnership Joint Action Plan, 9650/07 (Presse 105) 15 May 2007. Brussels, 2007.

20. Ibid.

21. European Commission, Towards an EU–South Africa Strategic Partnership, COM (2006) 347. Brussels, European Commission, 2006.

22. Council of the European Union, First EU–South Africa Summit, C/08/222 of 25 July 2008. Brussels, 2008, p. 8.

23. Husar J, ‘South Africa in the climate change negotiations: Global activism and domestic veto players’, in Dröge S. (ed.) International Climate Policy. Priorities of Key Negotiating Parties. SWP Research Paper. Berlin: SWP, March 2010, pp. 98–108.

24. Oberthür S & L Groen, ‘The EU and South Africa: Building bridges’, in Grevi G & T Renard (eds) Hot Issues, Cold Shoulders, Lukewarm Partners: EU Strategic Partnerships and Climate Change. European Strategic Partnerships Observatory Report 2. November 2012. FRIDE: Madrid.

25. Ibid.

26. Nelson MB, ‘Africa's regional economic powers and climate change negotiations’, Global Environmental Politics, 16.2, 2016, pp.110–29.

27. Fioramonti L & J Kotsopoulos, ‘The evolution of EU–South Africa relations: What influence on Africa?’, South African Journal of International Affairs, 22.4, 2015, pp. 463–78.

28. Oberthür S & L Groen, ‘The EU and South Africa: Building bridges’, in Grevi G & T Renard (eds) Hot Issues, Cold Shoulders, Lukewarm Partners: EU Strategic Partnerships and Climate Change. European Strategic Partnerships Observatory Report 2. November 2012. FRIDE: Madrid.

29. Nelson MB, ‘Africa's regional economic powers and climate change negotiations’, Global Environmental Politics, 16.2, 2016, pp. 110–29.

30. Wilkins TS, ‘Russo–Chinese strategic partnership: A new form of security cooperation?’, Contemporary Security Policy, 29.2, 2008, pp. 358–83.

31. Council of the European Union, First EU–South Africa Summit, C/08/222 of 25 July 2008. Brussels, 2008, p. 8.

32. Ibid.

33. Tondel F, H Knaepen & LA van Wyk, ‘Africa and Europe combatting climate change towards a common agenda in 2015’, Discussion Paper, 177. Maastricht: ECDPM, 2015.

34. Council of the European Union, The South Africa–European Union Strategic Partnership Joint Action Plan, 9650/07 (Presse 105) of 15 May 2007. Brussels, 2007.

35. EEAS (European External Action Service), ‘Sustainable development’, http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/south_africa/eu_south_africa/climate_energy_environment/substainable_dev/index_en.htm (accessed 19 July 2016).

36. ESPO (European Strategic Partnerships Observatory), Forum on Environment and Sustainable Development (FESD), http://strategicpartnerships.eu/dialogues/eu-south-africa-forum-on-environment-sustainable-development-fesd/ (accessed 19 July 2016).

37. Chevallier R, ‘Taking stock of the strategic partnership between the EU and South Africa’, Working Paper, 11 September 2009. South African Institute of International Affairs.

38. Personal interview, Official from EU Delegation, Pretoria, South Africa, 24 August 2016.

39. European Commission, ‘International Climate Finance’, http://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/international/finance/index_en.htm (accessed 18 November 2016).

40. Personal interview, Official from EU Delegation, Pretoria, South Africa, 24 August 2016.

41. European Commission, ‘Bilateral and regional cooperation South Africa’, http://ec.europa.eu/environment/international_issues/relations_south_africa_en.htm (accessed 18 November 2016).

42. Ibid.

43. Dialogue Facility, ‘12th meeting of the EU–SA Joint Cooperation Council, Brussels 20 July 2011’, http://www.dialoguefacility.org/Resource%20Centre/SA-EU%20reports/JCC%202011Minutes.doc2011 JCC report (accessed 18 November 2016).

44. Ibid.

45. Oberthür S & L Groen, ‘The EU and South Africa: Building bridges’, in Grevi G & T Renard (eds) Hot Issues, Cold Shoulders, Lukewarm Partners: EU Strategic Partnerships and Climate Change. European Strategic Partnerships Observatory Report 2. November 2012. FRIDE: Madrid.

46. Dialogue Facility, ‘12th meeting of the EU–SA Joint Cooperation Council, Brussels 20 July 2011’, http://www.dialoguefacility.org/Resource%20Centre/SA-EU%20reports/JCC%202011Minutes.doc2011 JCC report (accessed 18 November 2016); also, from a personal interview with an official from the EU Delegation, Pretoria, South Africa, 24 August 2016.

47. Personal interview, official from the EU Delegation, Pretoria, South Africa, 24 August 2016.Africa, 24 August 2016.

48. Ibid.

49. Ibid.

50. Ibid.

51. EEAS & European Commission, ‘Towards a renewed and strengthened EU climate diplomacy’, Joint Reflection Paper, 1, Brussels, July 2011.

52. Personal interview, Official from EU Delegation, Pretoria, South Africa, 24 August 2016.

53. Ibid.

54. Council of the European Union, First EU–South Africa Summit, C/08/222 of 25 July 2008. Brussels, 2008, p. 8.

55. Council of the European Union, Second South Africa–European Union Summit, 13231/09 (Presse 266) of 11 September 2009. Brussels, 2009, p. 3.

56. Tondel F, H Knaepen & LA van Wyk, ‘Africa and Europe combatting climate change towards a common agenda in 2015’, Discussion Paper, 177. Maastricht: ECDPM, 2015.

57. EEAS, ‘Third South Africa–European Union Summit Joint Communiqué’, Brussels, 28 September 2010.

58. EEAS, ‘Third South Africa–European Union Summit Joint Communiqué’, Brussels, 28 September 2010, p4.

59. Council of the European Union, Fourth South Africa–European Union Summit Joint Communiqué, 14292/11 (Presse 311) of 15 September 2011. South Africa, 2011.

60. Council of the European Union, Fifth European Union-South Africa Summit Joint Communiqué, 13899/12 (Presse 384) of 18 September 2012). Brussels, 2012.

61. Ibid., p. 4.

62. EEAS, ‘Sixth South Africa–European Union Summit Joint Communiqué’, Pretoria, 18 July 2013, p. 8.

63. Personal interview, official from the Department of Environmental Affairs, Pretoria, South Africa, 26 October 2016.

64. Personal Interview, consultant, Pretoria, South Africa, 16 November 2016.

65. Personal interview, representative of an environmental NGO, Cape Town, 29 August 2016.

66. Personal interview, official from the Department of Environmental Affairs, Pretoria, South Africa, 26 October 2016.

67. Dialogue Facility, ‘12th meeting of the EU–SA Joint Cooperation Council, Brussels 20 July 2011’, http://www.dialoguefacility.org/Resource%20Centre/SA-EU%20reports/JCC%202011Minutes.doc (accessed 18 November 2016).

68. Ibid.

69. Department of Environmental Affairs (South Africa), ‘Joint press release: South Africa and the EU reaffirm shared commitment to address the climate change challenge, 16 July 2015’, https://www.environment.gov.za/mediarelease/southafrica_eu_commitmentonclimatechange (accessed 19 July 2016).

70. Ibid.

71. Personal interview, officials (*2) from DIRCO, Pretoria, South Africa, 28 October 2016.

72. Personal interview, official from EU Delegation, Pretoria, South Africa, 24 August 2016; personal interview, anonymous, Pretoria, South Africa, 13 October 2016, pp. 4, 5.

73. Personal interview, official from the Department of Environmental Affairs, Pretoria, South Africa, 26 October 2016.

74. Personal interview, official from the Department of Environmental Affairs, Pretoria, South Africa, 26 October 2016; personal interview, officials (*2) from DIRCO, Pretoria, South Africa, 28 October 2016.

75. Personal interview, official from the Department of Environmental Affairs, Pretoria, South Africa, 26 October 2016.

76. Wilkins TS, ‘Russo–Chinese strategic partnership: A new form of security cooperation?’, Contemporary Security Policy, 29.2, 2008, pp. 358–83.

77. Tondel F, H Knaepen & LA van Wyk, ‘Africa and Europe combatting climate change towards a common agenda in 2015’, Discussion Paper, 177. Maastricht: ECDPM, 2015, p. vii.

78. Nelson MB, ‘Africa's regional economic powers and climate change negotiations’, Global Environmental Politics, 16.2, 2016, pp. 110–29; Husar J, ‘South Africa in the climate change negotiations: Global activism and domestic veto players’, in Dröge S. (ed.) ‘International climate policy. Priorities of key negotiating parties’, SWP Research Paper. Berlin: SWP, March 2010, pp. 98–108.

79. Nelson MB, ‘Africa's regional economic powers and climate change negotiations’, Global Environmental Politics, 16.2, 2016, pp. 110–29.

80. Council of the European Union, First EU–South Africa Summit, C/08/222 of 25 July 2008. Brussels, 2008, p. 8.

81. Tondel F, H Knaepen & LA van Wyk, ‘Africa and Europe combatting climate change towards a common agenda in 2015’, Discussion Paper, 177. Maastricht: ECDPM, 2015.

82. Bäckstrand K & O Elgström, ‘The EU's role in climate change negotiations: From leader to “leadiator”’, Journal of European Public Policy, 20.10, 2013, pp. 1369–86.

83. IISD Reporting Services, ‘Summary of the Paris Climate Change Conference: 29 November–13 December 2015’, Earth Negotiations Bulletin, 12, 663, p. 42; Christoff P, ‘The promissory note: COP 21 and the Paris Climate Agreement’, Environmental Politics, 25.5, 2016, pp. 765–87.

84. Although there are talks underway between the EU Delegation and DEA with a view to reinvigorating the FESD.

85. Personal interview, official from EU Delegation, Pretoria, South Africa, 24 August 2016.

86. Personal interview, officials (*2) from DIRCO, Pretoria, South Africa, 28 October 2016.

87. Personal interview, official from EU Delegation, Pretoria, South Africa, 24 August 2016.

88. Personal interview, officials (*2) from DIRCO, Pretoria, South Africa, 28 October 2016.

89. Habib A, ‘South Africa's foreign policy: Hegemonic aspirations, neoliberal orientations and global transformation’, South African Journal of International Affairs, 16.2, pp. 143–59.

90. Reid G, ‘South Africa's worrying prevarication on LGBT rights’, Human Rights Watch, 2014.

91. African National Congress, International Relations Policy Discussion Document, March 2012.

92. European Commission, ‘Citizen support for climate change’, https://ec.europa.eu/clima/citizens/support_en (accessed 14 June 2017).

93. Death C, ‘Environmental movements, climate change, and consumption in South Africa’, Journal of Southern African Studies, 40.6, 2014, pp. 1215–34.

94. Ibid.

95. Wilkins TS, ‘Russo–Chinese strategic partnership: A new form of security cooperation?’, Contemporary Security Policy, 29.2, 2008, pp. 358–83.

96. Council of the EU, European Security Strategy. A Secure Europe in a Better World. Brussels, 2003.

97. Renard T, ‘Partnerships for effective multilateralism? Assessing the compatibility between EU bilateralism, (inter-)regionalism and multilateralism’, Cambridge Review of International Affairs, 29.1, 2015, pp. 18–35.

98. European External Action Service, A Global Strategy for the European Union's Foreign And Security Policy. Brussels, June 2015.

99. Gratius S, ‘Can EU Strategic Partnerships deepen multilateralism?’ FRIDE Working Paper, 109. Madrid: FRIDE, 2011.

100. Afionis S & I Bailey, ‘Ever closer partnerships? European Union relations with rapidly industrializing countries on climate change’, in Bailey I & H Compston (eds), Feeling the Heat: The Politics of Climate Policy In Rapidly Industrializing Countries. Basingstoke: Palgrave, 2012, pp. 57–74.

101. Keukeleire S & B Hooijmaaijers, ‘The BRICS and other emerging power alliances and multilateral organizations in the Asia-Pacific and the Global South: Challenges for the European Union and its view on multilateralism’, Journal of Common Market Studies, 52.3, 2014, pp. 582–99.

102. van Schaik L & B ter Haar, ‘Why the EU is not promoting effective multilateralism: On a fundamental flaw in the European Security Strategy’, Clingendael Policy Brief, 21. Clingendael Institute, 2013.

103. Renard T, ‘Partnerships for effective multilateralism? Assessing the compatibility between EU bilateralism, (inter-)regionalism and multilateralism’, Cambridge Review of International Affairs, 29.1, 2015, pp. 18–35.

104. Ibid.

105. Council of the European Union, Report on the Implementation of the European Security Strategy. Providing Security in a Changing World. Brussels, 2008.

106. Renard T, ‘Partnerships for effective multilateralism? Assessing the compatibility between EU bilateralism, (inter-)regionalism and multilateralism’, Cambridge Review of International Affairs, 29.1, 2015, p. 18.

107. Ibid.

108. Gratius S, ‘Can EU Strategic Partnerships deepen multilateralism?’ FRIDE Working Paper, 109. Madrid: FRIDE, 2011.

109. Ibid., p. 11.

110. Vasconceleos 2010 in Afionis S & L Stringer, ‘The environment as a strategic priority in the European Union–Brazil partnership: is the EU behaving as a normative power or soft imperialist?’, International Environmental Agreements, 14.1, 2014, pp. 47–64.

111. Keukeleire S & B Hooijmaaijers, ‘The BRICS and other emerging power alliances and multilateral organizations in the Asia-Pacific and the Global South: Challenges for the European Union and its view on multilateralism’, Journal of Common Market Studies, 52.3, 2014, pp. 582–99.

112. Keukeleire S & B Hooijmaaijers, ‘The BRICS and other emerging power alliances and multilateral organizations in the Asia-Pacific and the Global South: Challenges for the European Union and its view on multilateralism’, Journal of Common Market Studies, 52.3, 2014, pp. 593–4.

113. Ibid.

114. Oberthür S & L Groen, ‘The EU and South Africa: Building bridges’, in Grevi G & T Renard (eds) Hot Issues, Cold Shoulders, Lukewarm Partners: EU Strategic Partnerships and Climate Change. European Strategic Partnerships Observatory Report 2. November 2012. FRIDE: Madrid.

Log in via your institution

Log in to Taylor & Francis Online

PDF download + Online access

  • 48 hours access to article PDF & online version
  • Article PDF can be downloaded
  • Article PDF can be printed
USD 53.00 Add to cart

Issue Purchase

  • 30 days online access to complete issue
  • Article PDFs can be downloaded
  • Article PDFs can be printed
USD 382.00 Add to cart

* Local tax will be added as applicable

Related Research

People also read lists articles that other readers of this article have read.

Recommended articles lists articles that we recommend and is powered by our AI driven recommendation engine.

Cited by lists all citing articles based on Crossref citations.
Articles with the Crossref icon will open in a new tab.