The comprehensive EU strategy with Africa proposed by the Commission has the support of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), but the Committee wants to go further, in an opinion adopted on 7 October ahead of the EU-Africa summit.
Beyond the proposed partnerships on green transition, digital transformation, growth and jobs and governance, the EESC advocates a partnership of equals, based on human rights, on more balanced relations, and which allows the sustainable development goals (SDGs) to be achieved.
For the EESC, the new EU-Africa relationship must turn its back on the outdated approach to industrial policy and growth that is detrimental to the planet and has negative social consequences.
It stresses the need to promote a decent life and good prospects in Africa by creating a middle class and strengthening the social-liberal democratic structures of the continent. This implies, for example, respect for fundamental workers’ rights, in line with International Labour Organization standards, freedom of enterprise and the right to a healthy environment, the opinion stresses.
The EESC would like the EU to support local public education systems and to extend the Erasmus+ programme to stem the brain drain and curb migration.
It advocates long-term investment in infrastructure and recommends sharing European expertise in Africa.
The Committee suggests that the EU should promote alternatives to the investment initiatives in Africa of third countries such as China, the USA and Russia through a robust trade policy and investment partnerships involving organised civil society in monitoring, control and evaluation systems.
Estimating that €600 billion would be needed to achieve the SDGs in Africa, the EESC recognises that massive private investment would be required. It calls for greater EU support for local public education systems. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)