Emerging Policy Directions in the Africa - Europe Relationships

 

Judging from both increased pace of international focus and heightened political interests, there is little question, that Africa is, and will increasingly play a major role in global international relations issues.   As the seemingly last frontier of resource rich continent, Africa is rapidly gaining focus from both the emerging industrial economies of the east, as well as from the traditional western European and American economies.  This reality is raising the process by which redefinition of roles within inter continental international relations is taking place.   

Of special interest to Europe's geopolitical poise is the quest to harmonise its relationship with Africa, within its other larger inter continental relationships.  This is particularly so, given its need to continually recognise emerging niches within its security, energy, trade and overall growth.  There is a sense within Europe that as it enlarges, there is need to synergistically manage diversity arising out of relationships blossoming within Western Europe and its new EU members, as well as between Europe and other continents.  In this set up, it does often appear to the lay that Africa seems to get inadequately get attention within Europe in terms of its potential (or even existing position) on various emerging role in global international affairs.  Yet, as trade, energy and other international arenas show the changing political economies of Africa are indeed attracting attention from the emerging Asian and South American giants.      

As dynamics of globalisation consolidates within the lives of individuals in Africa and Europe, we are beginning to witness intense levels of competitive dealings emerge, at different levels in the Africa - Europe relationships.  This process is unfolding some anxiety, stress and concern within some of the members in the nascent Africa Union.  Towards the end of 2007 Eastern Africa through the East African Community signed the 25 year old agreement that should replace its protocol relations with the EU.  This raised eyebrows among other Africa Union members that continued to call for a rather continental approach to dealing with Europe. 

Yet, stark reality arising out of different trading levels between Europe and some of the Africa countries is clearly a factor that lead to Eastern Africa signing agreement between it and the EU, based on its relative massive volumes of trade (especially horticultural) with the European Union (e.g. over 50% of the EUs cut flowers are from Eastern Africa and a growing additional supply of fresh vegetables trading is also emerging with some of the EU member countries).  

So there is a sense within Africa where some members largely argue; let us move together within our relationship with the EU. While other say; Hey! That is ok, but we already have mutually positive outworking arising out of the old engagements ( agreements ie Lome) and need to bridge accords that recognise our changing trading relationships, relationships that have helped improve lives of our people, rather than sinking again into poverty through talks we may not be sure of their outcome!!! So there is a real debate within Africa on its changing relationship with Europe. 

On the other hand within EU, there is growing debate on issues of fair trade, environment, carbon dioxide (CO2) pollution, energy, genetic engineering, energy, pharmaceutical industries and biotechnology versus natural biological food production or processes.  These among others have led to population to consciously demand for most nature friendly products or products arising out of these processes.   

And as a consequence, some of the concerns are increasingly expressed among many in Europe, on some of the processes within the new green revolution taking place within Africa.  An in direct case in point is the effect the air freighted exports from Africa face additional environmental pollution taxes ie CO2 before they reach European shopping malls.   This reality initiatively almost adversely affected Africa and South American flower producers.  But, have since recovered through their aggressive counter environmental arguments targeting the much environmentally taxing green house production processes in Europe.   So like ever other relationship. Africa- Europe relationship is undergoing an interesting transition as emerging realities within and beyond them, increasingly impart on any of their choices.  

This ongoing study work at Nate-care looks at the various facets of policy work, and issues of coordination and implementation processes that confront European Union (EU), the African Union (AU).  It also look at the  critical complimentary roles that sub regional blocks like the East African Community can increasingly play in this trans continental and intra- region AU policy work.     

 

REVIEW OF TRANSCONTINENTAL INTERACTIONS AND THE EUROPE - AFRICA POLICY ENVIRONMENT

The Arena of International Relations Policy Work, is Witnessing an Unprecedented Surge of Interests. 

With increased rates at which networks in various relationships are emerging, there is genuine concern that issues consequential to wide national or regional effect are more exhaustively considered in policy discussion.  Across various areas in socio-economic, technological, business and cultural fronts, decisions, processes and their resulting impacts increasingly have either regional or transcontinental effects.  This in turn has increasingly meant that policy management proactively perceive some of these trends as a means of keeping strategic pace with knowledge, needs and priorities of societies that they serve. 

With respect to Africa, we are witnessing important illuminating truth that include;

Complex nature that compounds policy issues worldwide is no exception to Africa.    Although well behind other continents on issues of democracy and good governance, Africa is growing steadily in its democratisation process.  From Liberia, Sierra Leone, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Nigeria and others, we see a rising Africa, where growing freedom of expression is opening peoples participation in arenas that drive economic and social progress.  Africa is using its new wealth to undertake massive infrastructural development a trend that is opening massive contracts for western and Chinese firms with the know-how still lacking in Africa.  

And this is changing the political economy of most African countries.  Emerging statistical treads show that Africa as a continent is on the rise in its participation of international modern trade of industrial commodities.  In particular this has been in the energy sector.  In other sectors, such as communication, Africa is on record as the highest growth market world wide on cell phone communication for the period, 1999 -2007.  Multinational operating in this specific area in Africa are making windfall annual profits, now even attracting investor interest from the London and New York Stock exchange.  

Yet, despite all the positive recordings of Africa, it is still a continent with disconcerting news on such as the illegal migration of Africans that is perennially seen through droves of poor boat people moving towards Western Europe.  On Health issues Africa is still leading on diseases prevalence rates like river blindness, Malaria and AIDS.  Although positive trends are emerging in the control of AIDS and Malaria, there is still serious concern over the annual loss of life as a result of these diseases.

Politically, Africa is rapidly undergoing irreversible processes leading to long term political stability, these however are still characterised with some unpredictable phases like was most recently seen in Kenya where a three months political standoff resulted between leading political parties as a result of floured election process that lead to inconclusive presidential results.  Consequence of this expensive institutional weakness within the electoral system leads to loss of lives and massive economic losses.  Further it leads to strategic questioning of the safe haven Kenya was seen by the international community as an investments hub base aside from South Africa, Nigerian or Egypt.  

Within Africa, there is increase in inter- country cooperation as a result of growing role of regional organisations within the continent.  The ECOWAS in West Africa, EAC in Eastern Africa and SADC in Southern Africa are examples of how growing economic blocks within Africa are increasing the pace at which inter country trade and social economic cooperation is increasing prospects of people across the continent.  Fresh Oranges, onions and coffee from Tanzania are now well available in Kenya while most of Kenya industrial products owned by western multinational find eased presence in Tanzania, Uganda and even in Southern Sudan. 

Like wise Nigerian industrial products are common within the West African countries within the ECOWAS.  In Southern Africa, South Africa has increased its presence in the mineral exploration and exploitation within some of these countries- case in point is Tanzania that is host to many South African industrial companies.  South African products are well available within other SADC countries.  

And, yet, opening up of Africa to the external beyond is sending mixed signals across the world, as well as within Africa.  Europe in particular is one continent that trade heavily with Africa and has over the late 1990 to date continued to decline in market share in Africa.  There is a sense in which this is beginning to have effects as the market share of western firms is being replaced by new highly aggressive Chinese merchants and Chinese way of doing business.  With the support of Chinese government financial backing, they are making steady inroads into Africa, and are increasingly having their presence felt across the continent at all levels of business, and economic frontiers.  This however has also raised concerns among citizenry in Africa, who are besides witnessing infrastructural growth, do also see a steadily loss of their real involvement in the process.  Most of the real economic benefits seem to go to Chinese individuals or Chinese owned firms, rather than to local Africans, as was partially the case in times when such projects would be carried out by West European owned firms. European firms were known to use a large base of local expertise or assist with training, where such specific turnkey projects showed deficient local technical skills.     

 

Against this background, the theatre of international relations between Africa and Europe is increasingly shaped by the above emerging landscape in Africa.  There is a sense in which strategically, it does appear that this is the best time to reconsider the Africa-Europe relations as a way of both continents taking advantage in the shaping of pillars that position them both within international affairs. 

In ensuing these, initiatives towards consolidating Europes role in the EU - AU relations are in earnest gear as seen through areas that include; 

       Resurgence of high level intercontinental meeting as seen through the Lisbons meeting of Head of States.  This provided a platform for setting of the new agenda between Africa and Europe.  Although international media seemed to have extensively captured some of its downside like the issue of President Robert Mugabes attendance, the general feeling on both sides was that the relationship between the two continents was taking a new level and new direction. 

Among the key highlights of this meeting was the agreement that resulted in the new strategic focus that will guide relationships between the two continents. Among this include;

-        Reaching of a general policy initiative crucial to synergising intercontinental policy framework environment that is supportive to various phases of social economic, cultural and even the often intractable trade relations.   In particular this is most helpful to the already existing relationship EU has with sub regional bodies in Africa like the ECOWAS, EAC, SADC, IGAD and COMESA. Given the reality of the African context, it does appear that these sub regional organisations will increasingly play role in reinforcing the niche relationships between EU and Africa.

-        Overcoming the long held mutual negative perceptions. There is a sense in which effect of the old historical relationships continue to provide bedrock for reinforced negative picture among citizenry in both continents.  As Europe and Africa draw to an equal basis partner relationship, some effects of the past like colonisation of Africa by Europe seem to resurge, questioning genuineness of the new policy directions.  In fact to some declining extend this to be the basis for the old leadership school within Africa.  

The exciting part of Africas relations with Europe is the growing recognition that growth within both continents is important than past history.  There is a sense in which the old historical tires are becoming the new basis for renewed cooperation between the two continents.  Given the similarity intellectual, professional language tyres, many African countries think tanks are more inclined to the freedom based western way of doing things that any other emerging step up.  As Africa emerges from its dictatorial lifestyles, democracy, good governance and freedom of association will are increasingly premium areas among its citizenry. 

The plethora of bilateral and EU led technical exchange programmes continue to provide African expertise in diverse fields from medical, agricultural,  business, and educational programmes.  These too play a crucial role in strengthening bridges of people to people relations between the two continents.  There is still question as to how effective both EU and Africa are using these to solidly bridging the gaps of understanding. 

       Responsive policy development that reflects strategic input of citizens through their interests, concerns and prioritises.   This is crucial given significant changes that continue to take place within the backyard of both institutions. The EUs growth with its inclusion of more eastern European has increasingly meant more need to include views, interests and priorities from the widened membership.   As EU focuses on its internal consolidation process, it is also confronted with the quest as to how best sustain its other strategic intercontinental relations.  It is here where the EU- AU relation need serious rethink, in light of the general citizenry role and or its involvement. 

Multiple initiatives are in place within Europe (both at governmental and non governmental) to help address issues of poverty, inequality, fair-trade, injustice, gender equity and overall good governance.  Involvement of Europe Citizens in issues of fairness and equality is having an important effect that is now finding acceptance within most of the democratic countries in Africa.  This is an important niche that can in near future help EU-AU set some basic positions on some of the areas that still need policy coordination or correction.

Among areas where EU and African citizenry have played strategic role include;

Fair-trade between the two trading blocks.  At multiple levels African and European NGOs have continued to play role on issues of equality within trade.  Although still a long way, some positive trends are beginning to emerge out of this work.  Cocoa farmers in Ghana through fair trade are now getting better dividends from the produce of their farms, Women farmers involved in the Roibush tea production in Burkina Faso are direct beneficiaries of the Roibush sells they export to Germany; and Kenyan flower farmers voice has most recently opened the wider environmental concerns in modern high energy farming within the debate of CO2 emission versus other high energy input.   The most challenging work now is bringing to fore exploitation of minerals rich countries especially Democratic republic of Congo.  

Bringing to fore, atrocities in different spots within Africa.  Working often in very dangerous environment, many western NGOs have risked lives of their staff who have continued to highlight what is taking place in areas like Darfur, and Sudan Chad bounder.   News from these war tore areas has continued to play an important role in helping shape EUs and even the AU strategic response to ground realities among the internally displaced persons or refugees.  Among the important steps witnessed has been the encouragement of China to take some steps towards talking to its trading partner Sudan. To day, China has now appointed a special ambassador to Darfur.

Environmental protection and awareness issues.   Increasingly, more European organisations are playing core-leading role in helping African organisations working on various matters of environmental protection.  As Africa aspire to get developed, there is often overlook on issues of environmental safety or protection.  To help mitigate this problem, both bilateral and NGO lead programmes are in place to help in the monitoring of safety standards in Africa.  This is especially important given the potential for some to use Africa as a dumping ground of their industrial effluents (as has been the case in recent past in Ivory Coast). 

Conflict resolution and Peace Building in Africa.  The role of deescalating potential conflicts in Africa has continued to be carried out by faith based organisation working closely with both government and some international NGO.  European organisations have been at the forefront of this action in various parts of Africa.  Although often unrecognised in their work, the impact of positive results as can be seen in the perennial conflicts among pastoralists in semi arid and desert regions of eastern Africa bears witness to this good works.  The on going work in the Great Lakes also greatly bears witness of the role of European foundations in effects to bring lasting peace among the people in Eastern Congo, Burundi and Rwanda. 

Through these initiatives and many others, we see the growing role of ordinary citizens across the two continents increasingly play role in shaping the agenda of policy design and its implementation.  Although not fully-fledged as policy advocates, many organisations starting off on development increasingly find niche in the larger policy issues and needs.  The onerous is for the EU and AU to progressively recognise niches citizenry can play towards improvement of Africa political economies and the equitable relations that Europeans can benefits from Africa - without compromising diversity of these two richly blessed continents.

 

TOWARDS A MULTILEVELED APPROACH IN EU - AU POLICY COORDINATION

Dilemma in Relationships

Both EU and AU are faced with a dilemma that affects any of their initiatives to work together towards addressing some of the opportunities and challenges confronting growth of their relationship.  The dilemma between the urge to take strong stands through joint policies on issues, and the need to gain wide political acceptance and support.  Judging from the stop-go approach that has characterised their working together, there is growing need on both sides to work jointly on issues of common interest and also come up with supportive policy approaches workable in both contexts. 

EUs relation with Africa is rather diversified, unlike its relation with the United States which is very clear on most matters.  What works for EU working out with West Africa in ECOWAS may not work with its East Africa with the EAC. In other words there is a sense in which EU requires both a continental approach to Africa as well as sub- regional specific approach.  This multi-approach is crucial, but also highly controversial when its comes to EU applying it to Africa, given Britains historical factors of divide and rule practised during the colonial times  Yet, within Africa many sub regional  think tanks are agreement that EU needs to move fast in its specific sub regional relationships. 

 

By Patrick Khamadi

Policy Advisor - International Development

Nate-care Development

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