On Thursday 25 March, the European Parliament voted in favour of an ambitious new EU/Africa strategy for an EU/Africa partnership of equals that puts people at its centre, taking into account the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic, to meet today’s common challenges, beyond the five partnerships proposed a year ago by the Commission and the European External Action Service.
The own-initiative report by Chrysoula Zacharopoulou (Renew Europe, France), which is the European Parliament’s contribution to the forthcoming EU/AU summit, was adopted by 460 votes (64 against and 163 abstentions), without amendments (see EUROPE 12684/21).
The alternative resolution of the ID group, which wanted to prioritise the fight against illegal immigration, was rejected by 579 votes (101 in favour, 8 abstentions).
Parliament advocates strengthening health systems and fighting inequality and violence by increasing access to education for all, as well as access to digital training. The inclusion of girls must be a priority.
“ In the post-Covid world, the protagonists will be young people as well as women and girls. They are the ones who will make the recovery happen!”, stressed Ms Zacharopoulou.
The European Parliament also requests: - long-term financial and technical support to African countries to stimulate climate adaptation; - EU support for African regional integration to help reduce dependence on foreign imports and the creation of a continental free trade area; - the protection of sexual and reproductive rights; - more IMF and World Bank efforts to relieve African debt; - an EU/Africa partnership on migration and mobility that gives priority to the human dignity of refugees and migrants; - support for sustainable agriculture.
“The recommendation of this report is clear: make the African continent our special ally in facing the challenges ahead. It contains concrete ways of implementing this goal in all areas: human, economic and cultural, with a new approach based on human links and exchanges between people”, summarised the rapporteur.
She also regretted that poor countries have so far received only 0.1% of the vaccines administered worldwide.
“We advocate that political divisions be overcome and that we be engaged on the ground. We need to be much more constructively involved than the activities of our rivals - adversaries even - such as Russia and China, who are trying to expand their influence on the African continent”, stressed Anna Fotyga (ECR, Poland), from the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
According to Udo Bullmann (S&D, Germany), “the fight against inequality will be the yardstick against which all our policies are measured”.
The Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen, welcomed the “convergence of views” between the Parliament and the Commission, particularly with regard to youth, women and girls. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)