Upon invitation from Skop (Malta’s platform of 13 NGOs), Ms Kurat from VENRO, a German platform for NGOs, gave an overview of EU-Africa relations and structures. In an interview with ‘‘The Times’, she emphasized that at European level a number of issues need urgent rethinking.
In her point of view, “agricultural subsidies are destroying African markets. While the EU gives development aid to Africa, at the same time it sends cheap frozen chicken destroying the continent’s regional markets, for example. This is a major issue”. She also refers to the EU-Africa strategy, signed between the EU and the AU and aiming at enhancing cooperation between the two continents, forging a new and stronger partnership.
This partnership aims at bridging the development divide between Africa and Europe through strengthening economic cooperation and promoting sustainable development in both continents, living side by side in peace, security, prosperity, solidarity and human dignity. The EU-Africa strategy deals with development aid but also concentrates on other issues including security, migration, climate change, energy policy and information society. It is built on a wide range of actors, incorporating governments and civil society.
However, Ms Kurat is covinced that although on paper the EU was always very positive, implementation is another matter altogether. “The problem is how to engage civil society on both continents to implement a partnership… Civil society is very weak in African states and there are attempts in certain states to weaken it even further. To engage civil society in Africa and in Europe we need more time”.
In her point of view development aid should ensure that African states decide on their own how to utilise the money. Unfortunately, Europe and Africa are no equal partners and equality is difficult with the big European industries lobbying in Europe. “If differences between continents are not reduced, we will not have peace and there will be illegal migration. So it is in the interest of the EU to develop the African continent” she commented.
Finally, she argues that to implement the strategy and make it a reality, both countries have to do their homework. Aid, for example, should not go to governments violating human rights. But a country’s people should never be punished because of irresponsibility of its government.Funds should therefore be channelled through international NGOs directly to the people.
