The EU-Africa summit is here again! As the two continents come together to discuss best way forward, we examine the shared benefits of the regional partnership.

President of the European Union, Jean-Claude Junker in his wordly representation of the EU-Africa partnership, describes it as a mutual investment that will promote prosperity and sustainable world for both Africa and Europe. Since the adoption in Lisbon in 2007, the partnership has been set out to move both Africa and Europe beyond a donor and recipient relationship into a jointly identified mutual and complementary interest.

The Joint Africa-EU partnership have created platform for Europe to work with Africa to foster sustainable development through investment in youth, trade and education; to strengthen peace and security as well as promote good governance.

The external investment plan under the partnership has helped to attract European companies to invest in Africa to the tune of 31 billion thus, creating FDI for Africa. Africa export to Europe has also increased to 41.1% as well as the EU project fund for energy and construction. Similarly, educational programs like vocational training, skill acquisition, scholarships awards for African Youths have added.

In the same vein, Africa’s support to European businesses in Africa is now more profound under the Joint Africa-EU Strategy. Trade agreement between the two continents have boosted .More European private companies are doing businesses in Africa. 8 million business plus leisure trips are recorded from Europeans each year to Africa.

Regardless, there are growing concerns that development aid is used to block refugees and migrants from arriving on Europe’s doorstep instead of going towards development projects on the continent.

Nevertheless, the new partnership between the two entities will herald a safer and prosperous future.

Source- http://www.consilium.europa.eu

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