EU AND RADIO ASTRONOMY IN AFRICA

European Union (EU) Parliament has launched advanced partnership to enhance radio astronomy in Africa. African-European Radio Astronomy Platform (AERAP) was unveiled on November 15, 2012 after successful adoption of EU Written Declaration 45/2011 on science capacity building in Africa. It calls EU Commission,Council and Member State parliaments to enhance science capacity in Africa through greater investment in research infrastructures and technology transfer among radio Astronomers. EU legislator Britta Thomson,an AERAP supporter since inception, hailed the launch, as important step in supporting mutually beneficial policies to Europe and Africa astronomers. At the launch, EU Parliamentarians explored with stakeholders’ future cooperation between astronomers from both continents. “We envisage future progress by especially engaging Irish andLithuanian Council Presidencies to strengthened mutual dialogue ahead of next EU-Africa summit in early 2014”, says Thompson. Legislator Maria Da Graça Caravalho and Rappoteur at Horizon 2020- another EU funding mechanism - said thetwo projects will complimentarily advance science and capacity buildingin Africa. “By building capacity in research, AREAP will greatly impact on peoples’ lives - from energy, space and medicine. These partnerships signify new generation of aid to developing countries, especially towards solving Africans’ basic needs. The launch comes after three successful workshops on cooperation in infrastructure. AREAP will be a stakeholders’ forum to define, implement and leverage priorities to advance scientific discovery,knowledge transfer, and stimulate competitiveness among astronomers from both continents.