Strasbourg, 10/10/2013 (Agence Europe) - At the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday 9 October, President of Senegal Macky Sall said that the recent tragedy of Lampedusa illustrates the need to take early action in the countries from which illegal migrants flee. This drama raises “the issue of employment and economic growth in our countries”, he stated at a joint press conference with President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz. In Sall's view, the EU could take action afterwards by having a “greater philosophy of openness. Europe can't live in isolation”.
Sall stated that it was first necessary to approach the issue correctly, from its root, and to ask the following question: “What should be done to interest the young people in their own countries?” He then called for the development and cooperation framework to take the employment dimension into account, and Schulz expanded on this approach. “Without investment, there will be no growth. Without growth, there will be no employment. And without employment, there will be no social stability”, Schulz said, adding that in the face of challenges that arise, it was tempting “to focus too much attention on ourselves”.
In addition, Sall highlighted the historical and geographical proximity of the two continents which “brings them towards each other in a singular dialectic of crossed destinies - destinies which are united and inseparable”. And this goes beyond the economic dimension as the issue of political stability in the region is also concerned. “If Africa is not stable, Europe is not calm”, Sall said. Schulz hailed Senegal's commitment to work for stability and peace in this region of the world.
With regard to the economic partnership agreements more specifically, Sall spoke of his concern on the issue of customs unions, fearing “asymmetric solidarity”. He stated that it was necessary to define a transition to ensure the reduction in customs duties was compensated - one of the main tax sources in West Africa - so as not the make the deficit deeper. “This is not insurmountable”, he said, “but we must be given guarantees on the fact that our fears are not” well-founded. In order to ensure “fair trade” between the two parties, “an upgrade of our industries and infrastructure” is needed as these are still embryonic, in Sall's opinion. (EL/transl.fl)