Europe needs a true partnership with Africa

If Africa is doing well, Europe is doing well, too. We want an ambitious, results-oriented partnership, based on values and shared responsibilities, benefitting both the EU and Africa”, insisted Janina Ochojska MEP and Isabel Wiseler-Lima MEP ahead of the presentation of the new EU-Africa Strategy by the European Commission.

“Europe will engage in a true partnership with the countries who strive for good governance, respect the rule of law, democracy and human rights, peace and security. True partners share common values as well as shared responsibilities. Europe cannot and will not fund autocrats, corrupt regimes or those who violate human rights,”insisted Wiseler-Lima MEP who will lead the EPP Group's work on the strategy in the European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs. 

She also stressed that peace and stability enable economic growth. “We should make all possible efforts to support and cooperate with people in the regions affected by violent conflict who push to find compromise to end the conflict situation. It is therefore important to maintain and support the EU's civilian and military missions. Peace is the foundation upon which prosperous societies are built", said Wiseler-Lima. 

Ochojska, who will negotiate the strategy on behalf of the EPP Group in the European Parliament’s Committee on Development Policy, welcomed the European Commission’s willingness to place the emphasis on youth. While extreme poverty levels are at a record low, Africa’s population is projected to reach 2.4 billion by 2050, and will predominantly consist of young people. “The main goal of development policy is poverty eradication. I am happy that a new EU-Africa strategy will strengthen existing policies to reduce poverty. We want to empower young people economically in a continent that has the youngest population in the world but, at the same time, fails to grant quality education and jobs,” she stated.