European commission president Jean-Claude
Juncker has described Africa as “the future” and called for
strengthening partnerships with the continent.
Juncker has described Africa as “the future” and called for
strengthening partnerships with the continent.
“Africa does not need charity, it needs true and fair partnerships. And Europe needs this partnership just as much,” he said.
In a keynote today (Sept. 12), European
commission president Jean-Claude Juncker specifically proposed a new
programme that would create up to 10 million jobs in the next five
years.
commission president Jean-Claude Juncker specifically proposed a new
programme that would create up to 10 million jobs in the next five
years.
Such a programme, he said, could potentially unlock €44 billion ($51 billion) in public and private investments.
The plan comes as Europe tries to bolster economic growth in Africa in order to limit irregular migration from the continent.
The proposal also comes just weeks after
both German and British leaders toured Africa in order to promote
investment opportunities that could create viable livelihoods and
disincentive migration.
both German and British leaders toured Africa in order to promote
investment opportunities that could create viable livelihoods and
disincentive migration.
Juncker said that he spoke with African
leaders including president Paul Kagame of Rwanda who affirmed that aid
relations should be replaced with “reciprocal commitments” in investment
and trade.
leaders including president Paul Kagame of Rwanda who affirmed that aid
relations should be replaced with “reciprocal commitments” in investment
and trade.
The EU will also plan to support 105,000 African students and researchers through its education and training program Erasmus.
Migration from African nations has
increased dramatically in the last three decades, going from just 1% in
the 1990s to 31% by the 2000s.
increased dramatically in the last three decades, going from just 1% in
the 1990s to 31% by the 2000s.
Last year, some 25 million people from sub-Saharan Africa lived outside their countries, according to a Pew Research study.
Many of those people are driven out of
their homes by a motley of reasons including conflict, economic decline,
disease, and hunger.
their homes by a motley of reasons including conflict, economic decline,
disease, and hunger.
To escape this, migrants undertake
dangerous journeys across the Sahara or take sea routes from North
Africa to reach Europe. The rates of deaths, especially those crossing
through the Mediterranean has risen sharply, with the
UN refugee agency saying 300 people have died as of July 2018, in
contrast to 2017 when a total of 200 deaths were recorded.
dangerous journeys across the Sahara or take sea routes from North
Africa to reach Europe. The rates of deaths, especially those crossing
through the Mediterranean has risen sharply, with the
UN refugee agency saying 300 people have died as of July 2018, in
contrast to 2017 when a total of 200 deaths were recorded.
European nations have tried to reverse
illegal migration in several ways, mostly by offering African nations
billions of euros in aid and other forms of incentives.
illegal migration in several ways, mostly by offering African nations
billions of euros in aid and other forms of incentives.
The EU has also proposed setting up
“reception centres” in nations like Libya where asylum seekers can wait
while their applications are processed.
“reception centres” in nations like Libya where asylum seekers can wait
while their applications are processed.
Italy’s right-wing government even went
further, recently announcing it would fight undocumented migration to
its shores by helping China invest in Africa.
further, recently announcing it would fight undocumented migration to
its shores by helping China invest in Africa.
