Strasbourg, 21/11/2005 (Agence Europe) - In its adoption, last Thursday, of the report by Maria Martens (EPP-ED, Netherlands), the EP has given its green light to the strategy for Africa proposed by the Commission (and on the Council's agenda for 21 November). In particular, the Parliament insisted on a more ambitious financial framework, the involvement of the EDF in the EU budget and the role of local stakeholders.
The African countries are all different, and therefore strategies to help them must be differentiated, said Maria Martens during the debate, calling for this aid be used to help, in particular, the fight against poverty, the creation of a climate which is favourable to investment, safety and good management. Development Commissioner Louis Michel started his address by stating that Africa is a continent which offers the best opportunities for the future: the emergence of a new class with changes in governance, unequalled natural wealth, demographic power (in 2025, there will be almost as many Africans as Chinese, and more than the citizens of the Union and the United States put together: furthermore, 800 million Africans will then be less than 15 years old). According to Mr Michel, the priorities for the future will be the achievement of the Millennium Objectives, improved aid coordination and the establishment of a roadmap on the coherence of aid. Various members of the Parliament regretted the fact that the Commission's document does not sufficiently stress the potential role of the African Union (although Mr Michel did underline its importance), others stressed the fundamental role of health, and (like French Socialist Pierre Schapira) education for women as an essential part of reproductive health. This was not to the liking of Marcin Libicki (UEN, Poland), who would like to see "feminist demands" on this subject removed from the resolution. Mr Michel reacted quite clearly: proposals on reproductive health have nothing to do with ideology, "this is humanism, pure and simple". The fact that Africa is lagging behind economically is partly due to the attitude of the African elite, which has failed to understand that colonialism belongs to the past, preferring instead to resume the role of the colonial powers in their own country, put in Michael Gahler (CDU). Coherence is the keyword in the strategy put forward by the Commission, Mr Michel replied, whilst noting: "the Council is hesitant (...), but we are trying to take a small step forward (...), without anybody having to worry about losing sovereignty (...). in this field, the competency remains shared". Mr Michel also raised the subject of: - the facility for peace. There is around 35 million EUR left, but what will happen in the future, if there is no agreement on the financial perspectives? However, there is the case of Sudan (and "we won't be leaving Sudan tomorrow", the Commissioner commented), and there may be Somalia and other countries: this means that we will need to find money; - the decentralisation of aid. This is fundamental: Mr Michel recently chaired a meeting on this issue in Rwanda; - the role of businesses. The idea of a "ethical and social label" for businesses working in Africa and the creation of a permanent forum of European and African businesses would be worthwhile instruments.