The European Commission presented a new development aid strategy Wednesday focused primarily on alleviating poverty in Africa and on keeping EU member states committed to their promises to double aid to the continent, the World Bank press review reports Thursday.
Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso called on EU leaders to urgently reach a deal on a new EU budget so the EU could fulfill United Nations commitments to boost its aid programs. The EU executive passed the new 10-year strategy at the talks with its African Union counterpart.
The new strategy, if endorsed by EU governments, will place a greater emphasis on eradicating poverty. It stresses partnerships with developing countries and promoting good governance, human rights, democracy building and trade.
The plan makes clear that Africa will be the No. 1 focus of the EUs multibillion-euro aid program, setting up a “strategic partnership” with its neighbors to the south. EU aid to Africa is to increase from 20 billion US dollar (120 milliarder DKR) to around 30 billion dollar (180 mia. DKR) by 2010, based on commitments made by EU governments in June.
Meanwhile, African Union head Alpha Oumar Konare warned that the “walls and prisons” cannot prevent immigrants trying to enter Europe illegally, saying the underlying economic and social reasons had to be tackled. The African Union leader said the underlying problems which fueled an exodus of poor Africans had to be tackled.
Konare added that African immigrants like those trying to get into Spain “are a reflection of the poverty” of a continent on which 40 percent of the population lives on less than a euro a day.
The EU strategy is designed to help Africa achieve the so-called Millennium Development Goals, chief among which is to reduce poverty by half by 2015. Above all Africa needs peace and stability, said the EU executive, explaining its proposals to strengthen good governance – sorely needed to overturn the continents reputation for corruption.
But the strategy stressed that the key motor of African development will be strengthening economies, and for that infrastructure – road and rail transport, but also water, energy and telecoms links – is crucial.
The creation of such networks will add a “spinal column” for the development of a genuine internal market across the continent, EU officials say. Konare agreed that to bolster its own national economies is crucial.
Kilde: www.worldbank.org
