Senegalese President Macky Sall, who holds the rotating presidency of the African Union, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, meeting on Thursday 10 February in Dakar, displayed a perfect convergence of views both on bilateral cooperation between the EU and Senegal and on the ambitions of the sixth EU/African Union summit on 17 and 18 February in Brussels.
This summit must bring “growth and shared prosperity”, stressed the two leaders, in a video message to the ‘Palais de la République’ in Senegal broadcast on the Commission’s website, at the end of a two-day visit by Mrs von der Leyen accompanied by five European Commissioners (see EUROPE 12887/14).
On this occasion, Mrs von der Leyen announced more than €150 billion of investments for the Africa-Europe programme to finance large strategic infrastructure projects, but also for industry, health, youth and education.
“This is the very first regional investment programme of our Global Gateway” funded by the EU, its Member States and financial institutions “and will be implemented in partnership with you”, she said.
Without ever mentioning the EU’s competitors in Africa, such as China, Russia or Turkey, the Commission President noted that the Global Gateway is “the EU’s investment programme in the world, anchored in values shared by the EU and Africa, such as transparency, sustainability, good governance and concern for the well-being of the people”. She also said that the EU is “the most reliable and important partner” for Africa, with €20 billion in grants per year, plus loans attracting public and private investment.
She called for Senegalese leadership and commitment at the highest political level as well as the participation of all stakeholders, including citizens, in the implementation of this investment plan for Africa “to create growth and confidence ".
President Sall underlined the shared ambition of the AU and the EU for a “renewed, modernised and action-oriented partnership”.
According to him, Europe and Africa have an interest in working together, since the security and stability of both continents are closely linked by their geographical proximity. Furthermore, with its “human and natural resources and development needs, Africa offers opportunities for investment and partnership for shared growth and prosperity”.
The Senegalese president reported in-depth discussions in Dakar with his hosts from the European Commission on peace, security and the fight against terrorism, infrastructure in Africa, agriculture, green economic recovery, the reallocation of special drawing rights from rich countries, the energy transition and the digital transformation of the African continent, “which will have to be finalised at the EU/AU summit”.
He also cited the response to Covid-19, “which also involves the production of vaccines on the continent for Africa’s pharmaceutical and medical sovereignty”, which the Pasteur Institute in Dakar is working on to produce messenger RNA vaccines with BioNTech and the support of an additional €125 million from the EU (see EUROPE article as above).
In terms of energy transition, Macky Sall reiterated the commitment of African countries to the fight against climate change, while pleading for the maintenance of gas financing to support the industrialisation of Africa and universal access to electricity in a continent where “600 million people are still without electricity”.
In Dakar, a European investment of €4.6 billion in young companies in Africa was announced.
The Commissioner for Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen, signed the cooperation programme between the EU and Senegal until 2027, focusing on health, youth, employment and sustainable infrastructure.
On Thursday afternoon, Ursula von der Leyen left Senegal for the ‘One Ocean’ summit in Brest, while the members of the College who accompanied her continued their official visit to this partner country. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)