Henri Rouille d’Orfeuil – Coordination Sud
What do you think of the evolution of Europe and Africa’s relations in the past years? In your opinion, what do you think worked/ didn’t work in the past experience?
I believe we no longer know, want or even can build a original, specif intercontinental partnership, especially one related to commerce and economic relations. We are at a critical moment in economic partnership agreements’ negotiations, the famous EPAs, that may stop the establishment of preferences and end a privileged relationship. The common use of these trade agreements endangers this reciprocal will to reach a common right globalisation. It is difficult to understand how five hundred African and European countries , belonging to the WTO, have reached this stage of meaninglessness in their relations. It is even more serious when this situation conditions and damages African agricultures and economies, not mentioning the African countries’ fiscal service!
How do you see the future of Europe and Africa’s relations?
Well, I believe it is necessary to build a framework that allows for African economies to develop, even if that framework doesn’t match the reference model; it is necessary to acknowledge public policies and support all development dynamics which take place in these realities. It is necessary to take an interest on the development actors and their organisations, but also on the actors which facilitate the democratisation process.
What do you believe to be the strengths/weaknesses of the relations between North and South NGOs?
Nowadays, South NGOs, and all other civil society organisations, are getting stronger. They still need support, but we have to keep some rules in mind if we want our support to be useful: we must never speak on their behalf, we must never dialogue directly with their governments, we must always be transparent in our projects and accounts. But we are now facing a new reality, an almost copernicanist revolution: we have the need to come together in order to be able to deal the the world’s problems. Globalisation makes us partners.
Regarding the different subjects discussed during the Forum (governance and mutual accountability; development cooperation and partnership; economy, trade and regional integration; and migration and development), which do you find to be more important or to have priority in your country’s relationship to Europe? Why?
Each one of these topics is, obviously, important. But the theme that is now most important is Economy, Trade and Regional Integration. The negotiations that are taking place at the WTO or at Brussels are not going all that well.
If you could talk to the Heads of the States at the December Summit, what would you like to tell them, what message would you like to get across?
I would tell them to be ambitious, to not let the world’s history to develop without them taking any action, for them to come together and stand up to their points of view in Brussels, Geneva, New York or Washington. I would tell them to make all efforts in order to unite their peoples, i.e. their civil societies, and to allow for them to develop different relationships amongst them, in order for change and solidarity to take place. Finally, I would tell them to believe in their peoples and respect the continued existence of a “non-governmental space”, a space for civil initiatives.
What was your general impression of the Euro-African Civil Society Forum?
The Euro-African Civil Society Forum, which took place in Lisbon from the 15th to the 17th of November was, indeed, very fruitful. The agenda allowed for the main issues on which NGOs must take a stand on to be tackled and discussed. It is important to challenge the Heads of State and the Summit itself, encourage them, and most of all, challenge them to go beyond the usual self-congratulatory speeches. We must ensure that the reality of the problems is present in this Summit’s meetings’ debates. The North and South NGOs’ joint strategies have made it possible for the realities lived by our partners to reach the debate floor! Thus, I would like to congratulate the Portuguese NGDO Platform for gathering us all and, in doing so, for having placed an important contribution for the drafting of common messages.
Source: Portuguese NGDO, Newsletter 4
