According to Elizabeth Sidiropoulos, National Director of the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), the adoption of a JOINT strategy between the EU and Africa is an extremely important initiative – one which reflects the intentions of both parties to place the relationship on a more equal footing. However, from the African states’ point of view, most African countries have not really been in a position to fully interrogate the contents or indeed make significant input into the paper during the course of its negotiations. Thus the document and the plan of action largely reflect the inputs of only a few African countries.