The cooperation between the Austrian and the Mozambican Parliaments contributes in many ways to the attainment of international goals and commitments in development cooperation, in particular with regards to the eighth MDG (“Develop a Global Partnership for Development”). Within the EU-Africa Joint Strategy the EU-Commission advises furthermore to engage in new forms of partnerships and co-operations (Twinning partnerships) that go beyond diplomatic relations. Such co-operations could be between parliaments, cities, communities, companies and civil society organisations.

The basic prerequisites for a fair politics of distribution of resources is a functioning democratic (control)system. This requires an adequate know-how of personnel and MPs on the one hand and a sufficient technical equipment of the institution “parliament” on the other hand – both of which makes control possible. The parliaments in the south need technical and specialist support with the implementation of their democratic and parliamentarian reforms. In this respect European Parliaments can play an important role. It is necessary to strengthen capacities and institutions in the partner countries of the south, in order to equip them to become fully responsible to design and steer their developmental processes. It is further important to make parliaments in the south and in the north aware of the fact that in terms of a mutual accountability they have to increasingly fulfil their roles as controllers of their respective governments.

The project “North-South Dialogue” with its goals and through its activities contributes to the attainment of international strategies and might be a valuable cornerstone of the afro-european dialogue. Mozambique has been selected as a partner because it is a focus country of the Austrian development co-operation OEZA. Also AWEPA is supporting Mozambique since years.

The continuous contact and communication between parliamentarians and parliamentary staff of Austria and Mozambique contributes to the establishment of closer ties and thus a mutual understanding and learning process.