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Can the EU/AU relationship shift from donor/recipient status?(Niki A. Shah sent these comments to Africa Policy Round Table Forum on 27/11/2007)

Posted Nov 28, 2007 in the category.

The EU/AU relationship cannot shift immediately from the donor-recipient status. It will happen but gradually. Donor projects will enable the African governments to ensure safe drinking water and medicines, adequate food and education, and a proper infrastructure in which the citizens can exercise their self-determination rights. The relationship between healthcare and poverty, trade and infrastructure, education and economy is very close and exchangeable. It is important to note that Africa is still suffering from the consequences of colonial exploitation.

The African Union can utilize the aid from the EU to bring social and political stability. It would need to hold governments accountable for their actions. E.g. Corruption. Upon the formation of a free and democratic society, the country move towards economic progress through market economy and on the basis of liberalization of trade and comparative advantage

Therefore, the answer is EU/AU relationship can shift from donor-recipient status gradually to EU-AU economic, social, and political partnership. These are the basis for sustainable development in the region which is essential for a prospering world. It is important to remember that a prosperous Africa is in the interest of everyone.

Can it take just this summit for the status to change?

Tremendous amount of change is required for the African continent to prosper. In order for change to occur, international community, not just the EU, has to think about the pervasive effects of humanitarian, social, and political problems that has plagued the continent. For example, how can one individual think of getting a job when he has no food to eat or is unhealthy?

On a macro level, it would be improbable for a nation to think of liberalizing trade and creating jobs without reflecting on the healthcare of its citizens to ensure a healthy and sustainable workforce to sustain levels of trade. On that note, change is necessary but comes gradually.

The international community, and this includes individuals, NGO’s, governments, and regional unions, must think of addressing multiple issues at one time.

Can they actually make history?

History can always be made. It is not impossible to make history. It needs a coalition of the willing to make historical changes. However, if there are genuine ideas of change in the discussion process based on noble public services, then history will be made. Governments must think of profiteering but also think of marginalizing them in the name of prosperity. Both the EU and AU can prosper simultaneously, not one-by-one. Making history requires genuine partnership. If governments are willing to forge genuine partnership based on common ideas and goals, success is inevitable.

Do they share the same destiny or almost the same destiny?

Destiny is a relative and subjective concept. Discussion of destiny may remain incomplete. In real terms, one should be talking of trends and patterns of political and economic progress, sustainable development, partnerships based on commonalities, and genuine success for the world community, particularly Africa since it is the least developed.

At some point in history, African Union will become as strong as the European Union is today. It will be able to counteract hegemonic forces in the future. The formation of European Union suggests that based on economic and military prowess, group of nations together can counteract any hegemonic power. E.g. EU and the United States.

EU and AU may share the same pattern or trend, but not the same destiny. Africa was dominated, oppressed, and exploited through centuries. The devastating impacts are still visible today as individuals cannot afford medicines and effective sanitation

But before anyone can talk about destiny, patterns, or trends; one needs to talk of extreme and rapid development to bring people out of poverty and hunger. To be able to provide people with effective health care and a place to live is a genuine goal. It is important to note that a thriving Africa is in everybody’s interest. Think of common African men and women who live without food, water, shelter, and medicine before thinking of partnerships.

Comments By: Niki A. Shah
B.A. Journalism and Mass Media, Economics
M.S. Global Affairs, International Law
Concentration: International Business

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Browne and Mugabe

Posted Nov 6, 2007 in the category.

PM Gordon Brown´s threat not to come to the EU/AU summit if Mugabes will attend, raises interesting questions like: \r\nshould there be generally a point of excluding a person from an international meeting and: who defines such a point? Certainly a lot of politicians are doing things which can be criticized but the exclusion of a head of state from an international conference is of another quality. Another question: how do/will other African state leaders react? Will they protest because such an act might also endagers them, if there democratic record might have also flaws? Or will they agree since they regard Mugabe also as awful? Unfortunately democracy is not taken thoroughly serious in a lot of countries. So: where is the line when tolerance turns to become appeasement? The decisive thing seems less what the PM of UK says but what African leaders themselves are saying.

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Calling a Dog Thief in order to Hang it

Posted Oct 30, 2007 in the category.

The Soil Association, in charge of licensing Britain’s organic business recently called on the Government to ban air-freighted food into UK. I think what the Soil Association should recommend to the government is a total ban on all air transport into UK. It is rather comical to say that air-freighted food should be banned and not air transport.

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Unequal Partners

Posted Oct 30, 2007 in the category.

Both parties are very expectant. The question is how far will they go and even when they get far, how long will it last? We can only hope for the better, but there’‘s a snag. One continent is very developed and probably getting into this parley with an eye on what it can get, another is developing and barely able to feed its teeming poor. Does Africa have the know-how to waltz along in this tango?

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AU/EU Parley

Posted Oct 30, 2007 in the category.

The AU/EU parley tends to portray a change in their relationship, one being a donor and the other being a recipient. I wonder if this unequal standing is acknowledged by the AU, and if it is how far does AU think it can go in balancing the scale. The Summit seemingly holds a lot of promises, but I hope these promises are not dashed and seen as some phantom hovering in the wind.

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