AU tables partnership proposals to EU
Macky Sall, the Chairperson of the African Union ( AU) has at the Sixth European Union- African Union Summit submitted eight proposals as a contribution to the definition of the new partnership with the European Union ( EU).
He said fast- evolving Africa seeks consensual and mutually- beneficial partnerships, through jointly shared values and priorities, without civilisational restrictions, exclusion, or exclusivity. He indicated that Africa wishes to have a redefined, renewed, and re- boosted partnership with Europe. Sall proposed for the joint installation of new software adapted to the ongoing changes, capable of supporting the innovative dynamics that will leave a lasting mark on relations.
“Let us work together towards the reinforcement of our collaboration with regard to peace, security and the fight against terrorism, through the European Peace Facility ( EPF). Based on experience in East, Southern, and Central Africa, the EPF could also support efforts in countries of the Sahel and members of the Accra Initiative against terrorist groups. “We seek the support of Europe to accelerate the SDR re- allocation process. We welcome the historical allocation of $ 650 billion in the form of SDR, from which Africa has received its quota of $ 33 billion, to partly withstand the effects of the crisis,” Sall said. This, according to Sall, was the first objective of the Paris Summit last May, on financing African economies. Due to the profound impact of the crisis on Africa’s structurally- weak economies, he called for the reallocation of an SDR of $ 100 billion from consenting rich countries in favour of African countries, in accordance with modalities to be fixed. He said this would bring Africa closer to the objective of $ 252 billion which the continent needs by 2025, according to the IMF in order to mitigate the impact of COVID and initiate its economic recovery.
He said the third proposal Africa pleads for easing of the OECD rules in order to better facilitate access of her countries to export credit, with longer maturity conditions and more manageable interest rates to reinforce investment and commercial trade between the two continents, adding that Africa is 30 million km2, 1.3 billion inhabitants; and a financial requirement of $ 130 to $ 170 billion per year, according to the ADB estimates, for infrastructure alone. He said the continent is ready to work with the European partners towards the implementation of the Global Gateway initiative within the framework of the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa ( PIDA), which is already underway. He added that the structural transformation of the continent ranges from realisation of road, highway, rail, port, and airport infrastructure to power stations, agrobusiness, industrial and digital platforms.
According to the AU leader, an Africa under construction, which stands to gain from commerce and investment, could keep its youth occupied and offer its partners more opportunities for co- construction, growth, and shared prosperity.
He pointed out that the two could explore the possibilities for collaboration in the European broadband connectivity project through low orbit satellites, as the outcome of the partnership also plays out in the fertile digital space, where the talent of creative and entrepreneurial youth is expressed. “We wish to work together with Europe towards the revision of investment risk evaluation criteria in Africa. For Africa, the risk perception remains considerably higher than the real risk, which results in high insurances costs, penalises investment, and reduces the competitiveness of our economies.” Recent studies show that at least 20 percent of the ranking criteria of our countries are based on subjective factors, while others are cultural or linguistic in nature, having nothing to do with risk indicators or stability of an economy.
He said the AU calls for the simplification of formalities and procedures related to project funding conditions, respecting the rules of good governance and transparency, adding that very often, these formalities and procedures delay the drafting and execution of projects, which weakens public action and arouses expectations that are sometimes not fulfilled. Sall said another proposal is for the two continents to act together for better access to vaccines and the reinforcement of African pharmaceutical capacities. He said in the face of the COVID- 19 pandemic, Europe demonstrated its solidarity with Africa through substantial donations of vaccines within the framework of COVAX, as well as on bilateral levels.
He said Africa is also engaged in the production of anti- COVID vaccines, especially with South Africa, Algeria, Egypt, and Morocco. Others like Senegal, Rwanda, and Ghana are getting ready as well. “Let us join efforts for environmental protection and climate justice. Africa supports the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. A number of our countries are developing strategies in this respect with an energy mix as well as protection and biodiversity initiatives within the framework of the Great Green Wall project.
“For a continent lagging behind on the development process and whose 600 million inhabitants still live in darkness, universal access to electricity and industrialisation of our countries is a priority. This is why we are for maintaining funding of the gas industry and for a just and equitable energy transition, taking into account the specific needs and limitations of our countries,” Sall said.
He added that Africa also calls for the return of its artefacts, saying that the restitution of African works remains a matter of high priority for Africans because they are part of their civilisational identity.