Sócrates talks the talk but African-EU relations rocky
After two days of debate, leaders of the two continents put their names to an Africa-EU Strategic Partnership agreement to take their relationship to “a new, strategic level”.
They vowed “to move away from a traditional relationship and forge a real partnership characterised by equality and the pursuit of common objectives” and which “capitalises on the lessons of the past”.
In a post-summit address, Portugal’s Prime Minister José Sócrates said the often troubled history between the two continents had entered a new era at the first such summit in seven years.
“What is important is that we met each other face-to- face, on an equal setting, in a new spirit,” he said.
However, the summit saw starkly different viewpoints on issues such as human rights and immigration.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel accused Robert Mugabe on Saturday of “harming the image of the new Africa” with his human rights record.
Mr Mugabe hit back yesterday, saying British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who boycotted the summit over his presence, was behind attacks on Zimbabwe.
“Yesterday, we heard four countries — Germany, Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands — criticise Zimbabwe for lack of human rights for non-observance of the rule of law,” said Mr Mugabe. “Does the German chancellor and the pro-Gordon gang of four of yesterday really believe that they have a better knowledge of Zimbabwe” than the Southern African Development Community and the African Union, he asked. “And it is this arrogance that we are fighting against.”
Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir also came under pressure from European leaders, including Mr Sócrates and French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
“We told him it is in Sudan’s best interests... that in order for the massacres to stop, the hybrid [UN-AU] force needs to be deployed as soon as possible,” said Mr Sarkozy.
Wary of China’s push into Africa, the EU is keen to secure new trade deals before the expiration of existing deals at year’s end.
