Blistering calls for EU to deal better with Africa

Leaders of 80 nations have gathered in the capital of Libya for the third two-day EU-Africa summit. Libyan President Muammar Gaddafi said partnerships between the sides are a failure. He condemned the WTO, World Bank and IMF as having destroyed Africa.

The 27-nation EU and 53 African nations made joint pledges in 2007 to end historic imbalances and enter a new era on a more equal footing. This followed years of trying to seal Economic Partnership Agreements which African countries still see as unfair.

Yet Eurostat reports exports to Africa rising, to 90 billion euros worth in the first three quarters of this year, with exports from Africa rising to 96 billion euros, up from 79 each way in the same period last year. The EU want greater access to African markets in exchange for investments.

Summit host Gaddafi warned Europe against preaching about governance and human rights, saying that Africa has trade alternatives, such as Latin America, China and India, which, he said, “do not interfere with our internal affairs”.

The warning has a strong bearing on immigration from African countries to Europe, since Libya, in cooperation with the EU, acts as a front-line buffer.

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