Journey companions

A special “continent-to-continent” partnership: since its foundation, the European Community has had a special care for Africa. This doesn’t mean that the gap separating the Northern and Southern shores of the Mediterranean has been bridged. In fact, economic, social, cultural, demographic and even political developments proceed at distant paces. But EU27 sees Africa as a possible “companion”. It is a question of relinquishing past prejudices and limiting the defense of particular interests, thus stepping from good intentions to concrete action. The next summit in Libya. Ahead of the Africa-EU Summit taking place from 29-30 November in Libya, the Commission presents its proposals “for a consolidation of the Africa-EU relations”. The Commission details “common challenges” where progress has been made, and which still have to be jointly addressed, such as poverty eradication, peace and security, democracy and human rights, global governance and climate change”. While the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) will remain at the heart of the Africa-EU Joint Strategy, the Commission recognizes that “there is a need to support Africa in strengthening its political and economic governance to allow better mobilization of the continent’s own assets in a sustainable way”. The initiative consists in drawing up the Action Plan on the implementation of the Joint Africa-EU Strategy that will be adopted during the Summit. “Strengthening relations”. To this regard, High Representative and Vice President of the Commission Catherine Ashton, said: “”Strengthening and deepening EU-Africa relations is a key priority during my mandate. Africa is not just a beneficiary of the EU, it is an important partner on a number of major regional and international issues of common interest such as regional security (through cooperation in the fight against piracy and in bringing peace and stability to the region) and global governance such as climate change”. EU Commissioner for Development Andris Piebalgs, referred to the “unique Partnership” drawn up three years ago to consolidate EU-Africa relations “offering the prospect of a better more prosperous future for 1.5 billion people in 80 countries”. “”In order to ensure long-term development, more attention will be paid to how development cooperation should help to create enabling conditions for inclusive and sustainable growth. This will help to alleviate poverty and to confirm Africa’s political and economic dynamism on the global scene”.Peace, democracy, migrations… Scenarios change rapidly. The Commission thus believes that economic, environmental and food crisis, and the emergence of new “donors” (notably China),”require adjustments in the EU-Africa partnership”. The idea is to develop thematic cooperation on peace and security, democratic governance and human rights, commerce, infrastructures and regional integration, the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, climate change, migration, employment, research, information society. Development cooperation should thus address new challenges, such as “inclusive growth” for the reduction of poverty and inequalities. For the Commission, “Development cooperation should be particularly focused on ensuring a healthy and well educated population, better provision of services and infrastructures, skills, innovation and entrepreneurship, as well as issues such as migration”. The objective is to foster investment, trade, and jobs creation, but it will be necessary to ascertain to what extent the EU is willing to invest, also financially, in these sectors. Utapped potential. There is “sustainable growth”, regarding the development of “efficient, green and competitive economies”. According to the Commission Africa has vast untapped renewable energy potential, ranging from hydro, to solar, wind, geothermal and biomass which could be used to ensure millions of people have access to electricity”. Sustainable growth also includes cooperation on strengthening regional integration and trade in Africa; supporting the sustainable management of raw materials, shifting support to agriculture towards small-scale farmers producing in an environmentally-friendly way; and implementing joint programmes to provide clean energy to all citizens”.