PREVIEW
A shortage of energy and ideas haunts preparations by foreign ministers for this year’s bi-continental summit
The mood music out of Brussels suggests that relations with Africa are not getting priority at the European Commission despite rhetorical assurances to the contrary. That is reflected in the lack of fresh thinking ahead of meeting between African and European foreign ministers in Brussels this week. Officials in the Commission are alarmed by the sudden pull back of United States funding for UN and other multilateral agencies and are set to raise the matter with their African counterparts.
The Commission has said that part of its response to the US administration’s tariffs will be to ‘diversify’ its commercial relations.
It has set a December deadline for concluding talks on a trade deal with India. It has opened discussions on pacts with the United Arab Emirates, other Gulf States and Thailand but to date it hasn’t opened fresh talks with any African economies (AC Vol 66 No 9, Blitzed by Trump tariffs, can Africa and Europe agree on trade?).
Officials say that the 21 May meeting of EU and African Union foreign ministers in Brussels will be used primarily to take stock and prepare for the EU-AU leaders’ summit later this year in Africa. Up for discussion will be policies on peace, security and governance; multilateralism; prosperity; and people, migration and mobility, according to an agenda published by the European Council.
The foreign ministers’ gathering will be co-chaired by EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas, and Angola’s external relations minister, Tete António, who also chairs the AU Executive Council.
On migration, Tunisia, Morocco and Egypt have been designated as ‘safe’ third countries by the EU Commission, a new listing that is designed to make it easier for the EU to deport migrants whose applications have been rejected. The three North African states are the main recipients of EU funding for migration control.
Officials are also set to discuss the proposed reforms of the United Nations as part of the talks on multilateralism. EU Commission officials say that the bloc supports the restructuring proposed by Secretary General António Guterres but warn that the UN faces an unprecedented funding crisis.
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