Europe and Africa: A Complex Partnership in a Mix of Integration and Dependency
Last week, the Belgian capital Brussels hosted the third ministerial meeting of the foreign ministers of the European and African Unions to discuss their partnership and ways to enhance it, amid ongoing complaints about the lack of equitable opportunities between the two continents, continuing dependency, and the fueling of ethnic conflicts.
According to a joint statement, both sides discussed the progress made in their partnership and addressed several topics such as security and economic cooperation.
The European Union’s investments in Africa amounted to approximately €257 billion in 2023, making it the continent’s largest investor, as well as its primary trade partner.
Moroccan researcher in African affairs, Zakaria Aknouch, stated in a conversation with Anadolu that, despite having freed itself from colonialism, the continent "continues to live in a state of dependency and subjugation to European countries."
Pointing out that Africa is "rich in natural resources and poor in development," Aknouch accused some European countries of "fueling ethnic conflicts on the continent and exacerbating its economic and developmental problems."
He urged African leaders to "diversify their partners to safeguard their countries’ interests amid the great power struggle over the continent, particularly with China."
New Horizons
The third ministerial meeting of the European and African Unions was held to prepare for a high-level summit, gathering heads of state and governments from both sides, at a date to be determined.
The joint statement emphasized the focus on issues of security, economy, and development, such as tensions in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as efforts to achieve peace and stability in the Sahel region, whose three countries—Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger—did not attend this meeting.
According to the statement, both sides affirmed the need to strengthen their political and security cooperation in the face of common challenges.
Aknouch remarked that "this meeting comes as part of the continuous efforts to build a strategic partnership between the two continents, reviewing and assessing what has been achieved since the sixth joint summit in Brussels in February 2022."
He noted that that summit "established a set of political and developmental commitments aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation in the fields of peace and security, sustainable development, economic integration, and cultural exchange."
He added that last week’s ministerial meeting "witnessed in-depth discussions on mechanisms to enhance joint coordination and exploring new horizons for multidimensional strategic cooperation, in preparation for the seventh summit between the two sides, amid the rapid challenges and transformations facing the African and international arenas."
Security Issues
The recent meeting between the two unions focused on security issues, amidst ongoing tensions in several countries, including Sudan and the Sahel region.
Since mid-April 2023, Sudan has been embroiled in a war between the army and rapid support forces, resulting in more than 20,000 deaths and around 15 million displaced people and refugees, according to the United Nations and local authorities, while research from American universities estimated the death toll at about 130,000.
The security dilemma in the Sahel and African desert regions continues to trouble local countries and UN officials, as the number of terrorism victims in the Sahel has been labeled the "largest" globally over the past three years.
The African Union’s Center for Counterterrorism announced that it recorded more than 3,200 terrorist attacks that resulted in the deaths of 8,400 civilians in countries across the continent between January and September 2024.
Aknouch explained that Africa, rich in natural resources and raw materials, "is experiencing a struggle for influence among great powers, primarily China, making the continent a target for international ambitions. Hence, the EU wants the partnership it proposes to be innovative and respectful of African nations."
He noted that the Russian-Ukrainian war "had a significant presence in last week’s European-African meeting."
He deemed that "the instability in the continent is fueled by Chinese and Russian actors, whose methods and agendas differ greatly from those of the European Union."
Since February 24, 2022, Russia has been conducting a military offensive against Ukraine, demanding that Kyiv relinquish its aspirations to join Western military entities, which Ukraine considers a "violation" of its sovereignty.
Economic Agenda
Strengthening economic cooperation between the two continents was a central theme of the latest meeting, particularly through European investments in energy and infrastructure, along with demands from African ministers for a rebalancing of economic relations with Europe.
Kayra Kalas, the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, stated at a press conference following the meeting that the EU remains the primary cooperative partner for Africa.
She announced a commitment to investments amounting to approximately €150 billion under the EU’s "Global Gateway" strategy to enhance infrastructure, digital connectivity, and green transformations across the continent.
In March, the African and European Unions signed a €20 million funding agreement aimed at implementing developmental projects in Africa, such as digitization, connectivity, energy, and supporting economic growth.
Commenting on the developments in the partnership between the two sides, Aknouch described the relationship as "complex, encompassing both positive and negative aspects."
He added, "While there are integration elements, such as trade partnerships and cooperation in various fields, there are also dependency aspects due to differences in capacities and reliance on aid."
Balancing Interests
Aknouch considered that the relationship between the African and European continents "is based on a mix of integration and dependency, requiring a balance between both parties’ interests."
He noted that African nations "are among the richest in terms of natural resources like oil and gas, yet they remain the most impoverished concerning development."
He continued, "Africa, although it has liberated itself from colonialism, still lives in a state of dependency on European countries, which continue to fuel conflicts, ethnic and sectarian clashes, civil and tribal wars, and ignite disputes over land, water, and natural resources throughout the continent."
He explained that this interference "turns the continent into a volatile region due to a lack of stability, further compounding its economic and developmental issues."
According to the Moroccan researcher, "Out of 53 African countries, 23 are among the world’s poorest, according to international development reports."
He urged African nations to "adopt democracy to distance themselves from European patronage."
He concluded by stating, "This cannot be achieved without avoiding authoritarian regimes controlling African countries, which thrive on and strengthen themselves through European support in both form and substance."
Aknouch emphasized the need for African countries to diversify their trade partners instead of heavily relying on the European Union.
