EU and Africa: Making an equal development partnership a reality based on sustainability and common values (own-initiative opinion)

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Adopted on 18/09/2020 - Bureau decision date: 20/02/2020
Reference
REX/527-EESC-2020
Opinion Type
Own-initiative opinion
Rapporteur
, Thomas WAGNSONNER (Workers - GR II/Austria)
Africa, Caribbean, Pacific (ACP)
International Trade
  • The common foundation of any EU political engagement leading to an equal development partnership with Africa shall be based on a multidimensional approach, articulating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the respect of Universal Human Rights (UHRs) - including fundamental rights, the right to a healthy environment and the freedom to conduct a business.
  • The EESC advocates promoting a decent life and good prospects, creating a middle class and supporting equal partnerships by strengthening sustainable social-liberal democratic structures in Africa.
  • The EESC highlights that the EU strategy on Africa must focus on Development and welcomes the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
  • The EESC reiterates the important role of organised civil society in the up-coming ACP-EU Partnership Agreement.
  • The EESC stresses that long-term investment in intra-African infrastructures makes economic sense, is ecologically sustainable and creates production capacities, while an approach geared solely towards overseas exports is unsustainable. Intercontinental economic collaboration should favour local production in Africa, whose main sectors should be sustainable agriculture, energy and the circular economy. In this context evaluation systems that heavily involving the organised civil society are absolutely vital.

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