At the start of the German EU Council Presidency, VENRO calls for more open and inclusive political debates and decision-making for a fair partnership between Africa and Europe. The socio-ecological transformation of our societies can only succeed if as many people as possible can participate in shaping it.
Together with around 70 civil society organisations from Africa and Europe, VENRO developed concrete demands for the German EU Council Presidency at the Digital Africa Forum in May and June 2020. Bernd Bornhorst, Chairman of the VENRO Board, explains:
“The corona crisis shows us that complex problems cannot be solved by isolated national or continental efforts. In our interconnected world, not only the fight against diseases is a global task, but also climate protection and sustainable economic activity, the promotion of peace and the protection of human rights, generational justice and digitisation. The most effective means of achieving this is an inclusive policy benefiting all people, which is oriented towards the common good and is based on solidarity.”
The social and economic situation in many African countries is currently very tense. VENRO therefore calls on the German Federal Government to use the planned summit between the African Union (AU) and the EU in October 2020 to advance tangible African-European initiatives. The experience of civil society organisations on the ground must be integrated in this process more prominently.
“A fair and solidary partnership with Africa is possible and necessary. With a view to drawing up an EU strategy for cooperation with the African Union, the German Government must do everything in the coming months to ensure that the financial resources of the European Green Deal, the EU reconstruction plan and the EU’s multiannual financial framework also benefit our neighbouring continent”, says Bornhorst.
Further concrete demands to the German Federal Government are outlined in the position paper “For a fair partnership between Africa and Europe (PDF)“.