Tackling the problem of migration calls for a partnership with Africa to assist in the socio-economic transformation of the continent, in line with the priorities and vision of the Agenda 2060 of the African Union, the heads of state or government of the EU stressed in Brussels on Friday 29 June.
This ambition accords with that expressed at the fifth EU/Africa summit and first EU/AU summit in Abidjan (see EUROPE 11916). The conclusions adopted stress that Europe and its members states must rise to the challenge and call for cooperation with Africa to be increased in both scope and quality.
The European Council states that this will require not only an increase in development aid, but also the creation of a new framework allowing a substantial increase in private investments, by both Africans and Europeans. Currently, it is from the European Development Fund (EDF) that €500 million to be fed into the emergency trust fund for Africa has been taken (see EUROPE 12051).
The European leaders consider that education, health, infrastructure, innovation, good governance and automation should be the priority areas for intervention within the reinforced partnership.
To show that cooperation in migration matters does not mean fortress Europe, the European Council adds that the geographical proximity between Africa and Europe must be expressed in increased exchanges between the peoples of the two continents at all levels of social society.
“We hope to work to fight the root causes of migration. Nobody leaves their country on a whim. We need to intensify cooperation with Africa on the basis of Agenda 2063”, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose country is the brainchild of a Marshall plan for Africa, told the press. This EU member state also that considers that the share earmarked for Africa in the draft post-2020 multiannual budget of the EU was not enough (see EUROPE 12024).
The President of the European Parliament, Antonio Tajani, announced that he would travel to Niger in mid-July, “leading an economic diplomacy mission with European entrepreneurs”.
It is worth noting that the EU's external investment plan is designed to raise €44 billion in private investments, principally in the countries of Africa, but also in the countries of neighbourhood, between now and 2020. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)