Brussels, 30/11/2010 (Agence Europe) - First day friction - but hidden. It was in an atmosphere of agreement that the third EU/Africa summit concluded in Tripoli on Tuesday (see EUROPE 10266), although all differences over trade, investment or climate change had not been smoothed out. At a time when emerging countries are increasingly present in Africa, Europeans and Africans are resolved to deepen their privileged relationship by counting more on the private sector.
José Manuel Barroso, European Commission President, and Jean Ping, who chairs the African Union Commission, both described the meeting at the highest political level on investment, growth and employment as a “success”. Such topics are essential in the context of the global economic crisis. The 80 European and African heads of state and government adopted the Tripoli statement which embodies the will of the different leaders to consolidate the strategic partnership established three years ago between the two continents to meet common challenges together and promote growth to the advantage of all those in Africa, as well as in Europe. “We, the heads of state and government of Africa and the EU representing over 1.5 billion citizens, are determined to seize, together, the new opportunities provided for taking broader initiatives that are to our mutual benefit”, the leaders said. They also set out this political declaration within a three-year action plan (2010-2013) for giving concrete substance to the priorities identified, such as peace and security, democracy and human rights, trade and infrastructure, energy, immigration and employment.
“Since the Lisbon Summit, the EU and Africa, which are natural partners, have had a future together to be built on a foundation of common values. Progress has been made. We want tangible progress for the future. A summit is a catalyst. This was a summit on what we can do to enlarge our partnership and make it more operational by involving the private sector and civil society more. This partnership is not a partnership between governments and diplomats, but between the African and European societies. The political atmosphere has improved. We have concrete objectives”, José Manuel Barroso said addressing reporters.
The president underlined the enormous potential of Africa whose PNB per inhabitant grew by 6% annually between 2006 and 2008. He welcomed the foreign direct investment flows in Africa that have grown considerably since 2002 and called for an energetic green revolution in Africa. The EU remains the leading provider of global official development aid and the biggest donor to Africa. “We are ready to continue with this effort but never has a country gone from the status of developing country to that of developed country with aid alone”, Barroso said.
Referring to discussions with Sudan just before the referendums on self-determination for Southern Sudan and the status of the Abeyei region, Barroso spoke of the desire shared by European and African leaders to “encourage all parties to meet their commitments on a peaceful transition”.
While claiming to be at one with Barroso in his analysis, Jean Ping, the Gabonese President of the African Union Commission, nevertheless brought some qualifications. Certainly, “aid alone will not get us out of the difficult situation in which we find ourselves, but with globalisation, there are three major factors for our development: aid, direct foreign investment and trade. Traditional aid is becoming less and less important,” he said.
He said that in trade, there were still differences on economic partnership agreements (EPAs), “but everything possible must be done to conclude them. The differences are not as great as they were in Lisbon and we are committed to finding a solution”. It was on this common will that the Tripoli Declaration laid stress.
The lack of foreign investment in Africa is a real problem. “We complain that there is not enough capital flowing from Europe to Africa. Capital systematically avoids Africa to go to Asia,” he regretted, adding, “We call on investors in the North: why criticise China which is coming in. Europeans have to wake up and come to Africa!”
When asked about African institutions' ability to deal with investment, Ping acknowledged that it was “important that we tidy up our house” and create a conducive environment through good governance. He noted that, in 1990, the Washington Consensus was imposed on African countries. “We privatised, but investment did not follow. It goes to Asia where the Washington Consensus was rejected. We have to wonder if we were not prescribed the wrong medicine which, instead of curing us, is killing us”. (A.N./transl.jl)