Atlantic Community:Global Must Read Article "EU-Africa Summit is a Failure"

At the recent EU-Africa two day summit in Lisbon, the EU not only failed in securing formal trade agreements with Africa but also in combating China’s growing influence in Africa according to Andrew Grice of the Independent.

Only 15 of the 76 poor countries involved have so far signed Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with Europe and Abdoulaye Wade, the President of Senegal said, “Europe is close to losing the battle of competition in Africa.” Furthermore, the involvement of Zimbabwean President Mugabe caused controversy and persuaded British Prime Minister Gordon Brown to boycott the summit.

Independent, December 10, 2007

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Tue, Feb 5th 2008, 19:50

Katharina Hock, University of Konstanz, (5)

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It was indeed a failure, because the Europeans didn’t accomplish to understand that in those African countries ruled by autocratic or despotic “big men”, you don’t get ahead by providing just “soft” incentives or offers which are bound to conditionality.

If there’s another actor which avoids to bring up human rights violations and doesn’t call into question the legitimacy of the respective ruler, he might seem the “easier” alternative, because he doesn’t pose a threat to the status quo.

What can the E.U. do in order to gain more influence in Africa again ?
That’s not an easy question to answer, because any measures might most likely go against other countries interests.

A close cooperation with the African Union could be a good approach.
Additionally, it is necessary to convince global powers like China that no one benefits from countries torn apart by civil war, bribery and corruption in the long term, and that they should shut down their activities in those countries.
Possible, but in consideration of the Chinese interests, rather wishful thinking.