Donors to Pay Attention to Sanitation Issues
Isabella Gyau Orhin
The Senior Vice President of the KFW Development Bank of Germany Mr. Bruno Wenn has said although the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) number seven highlights the need to provide access to water and sanitation, the issue of sanitation services in Africa has been neglected for a while by the donor community.
Speaking to a group of African media personnel in Frankfurt last Week, Mr. Wenn said the neglect was due to the fact that donors concentrated on providing services in rural communities which have no huge sanitation problems like urban areas.
This therefore led to the focus on the provision of water to the detriment of sanitation services, especially in urban areas.
"In economic sense, there is the need to focus on sanitation in urban areas where there are slums and where people are in dire need of sanitation services," he said.
He said the donor community has a plan to support the provision of sanitation services up to the year 2020 in Africa.
Key indicators according to him are being developed for smooth and effective implementation of the programme.
Studies show that at least 300 million or 40 percent of Africans do not have access to basic sanitation and hygiene services; this number has increased by 70 million since the year 1990. Those without access are concentrated among the poorest and most vulnerable, and the problem is particularly severe in rapidly growing peri-urban areas.
Experts however, say epidemics do not respect geographical boundaries or social status, so a threat to the most vulnerable is a threat to all.
It is estimated that every hour; a hundred African children die from diarrhoea. Most of these lives can be saved through better access to sanitation and improved basic hygiene; the simple act of washing hands with soap can reduce deaths from diarrhoea by a third! Poor sanitation and hygiene weaken Africans through disease, disrupt the environment, exacerbate poverty through medical cost and lower productivity, while robbing the poor and vulnerable of dignity.
In an interview, a Member of Parliament of the Greens Party in Germany Dr. Ursula Eid said it is important for Africa to pay attention on sanitation issues.
Dr. Eid who is an advisor on sanitation to the UN Secretary-General Mr. Ban Ki Moon said she is working very hard to get the African Union to focus on sanitation in one of its up coming meetings.
At the end of the African Sanitation and Hygiene conference in 2002 in Johannesburg, participants pledged to develop and strengthen the clear policies and institutional frameworks needed to improve sanitation and hygiene; as a first step, identify departmental leadership and clarify the responsibilities of the many government departments usually involved in the sector.
Participants further pledged to ddevelop realistic local, national and global targets for improved sanitation and hygiene in particular, and to support the adoption and implementation of a global target of halving the number of people without access to sanitation and hygiene by 2015.
They also pledged to increase the financial and human resources available to achieve these targets, and ensure that adequate resources are also available to monitor progress.
Participants also recognised the leadership of women in sanitation and hygiene. "As care-givers who suffer the consequences of managing health within the family, women have always been quicker than men to appreciate the importance of sanitation and hygiene; they have been at the forefront of efforts to improve them," a statement issued at the end of the summit said.
This does not mean that men can "leave this challenge to women", but rather that the role of women must be understood, respected, and supported if the challenge is to be met., the statement added.
Participants also pledged to make the most of public resources in sanitation and hygiene by using them only for those items for which households and others cannot or will not pay
In Ghana, the National Sanitation Policy which was published in May 1999 by the Local government Ministry looks at environmental problems and constraints and lists inadequate funds to pay solid waste contractors who are doing about 80 percent of the collection not paid for by residents.
Others are lack of intense and sustained public education on sanitation, land acquisition for public waste disposal and not in my backyard syndrome.
The policy also encourages private sector participation in the delivery of sanitation services and this is where Zoomlion, a private waste management company operating in Ghana steps in with public education on sanitation alongside its work.
At the launch of a Public education on sanitation in Accra last month, the Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Environment (MLGRDE), Mr. Kwadwo Agyei Darko appealed to Ghanaians to desist from the "blame-game syndrome" and find ways of solving and controlling sanitation problems whenever they occur.
He said sanitation isses are very important for accelerated growth and therefore should
A dirty environment, he said, can lead to serious environmental hazards such as floods and outbreak of diseases like malaria and cholera.
"It is we ourselves who dirty the environment and not anyone else. Keep the plastic and liquid wastes in cars in which you are sitting in rather than throwing them out to litter the streets", he said.
He urged Ghanaians not to wait for the government to come and clean their environments for them. "We must clean it ourselves", he said.
Friday, November 16, 2007
Gyimah-Boadi advises African countries to invest in Chinese studies
By Isabella Gyau Orhin
African countries have been advised to invest some money in China studies in order to deal with that country effectively and efficiently.
An advisor to the German Government on the African Initiative Prof Gyimah –
Boadi said this in an interview after the third German/Europe –African Dialogue on Development cooperation in Ebarbach near Wiesbaden in Germany.
“We need to learn the Chinese language, understand Chinese culture and politics,” Prof, Gyimah- Boadi who is the Executive Director of the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development. (CDD) said.
He said Africans know the British and the Americans to some extent and this makes it easier in dealing with them.
For instance he said Africans have studied in British schools, have intermarriages with the British people and understands their language.
“When it comes to China, we don’t know them,
They have studied us and know us and that is why they are coming to us,” he said.
He said the Chinese relationship with African countries in recent years has brought some competition in African trade relations with the rest of the World.
“Suddenly Europe and America has to compete with China over Africa,” he said adding,
“If you have something to sell and there are many buyers it is fine,” he said.
Prof. Gyimah-Boadi said the question now is whether African countries will be able to make the good choices.
“This is a question that should be answered by only Africa and not Europe or America,” he said.
Prof. Gyimah-Boadi further explained that.
He said Europeans did not come to Africa as missionaries and charity givers and the same thing applies to china. He all these investors have business interests which Africa must watch cautiously.
Speaking on the relevance of the Summit itself, Prof. Gyimah -Boadi said the forum gave the opportunity for Africa to tap the brains of some of its sons and daughters who for some reasons are not living in their countries.
He said although the German President Mr. Horst Kohler has no decision making powers, he has persuasive skills which help to change the mind of his people towards African issues.
At a press conference after the summit, the summit, the German President Mr. Kohler Europeans and other Western n leaders to refrain from what he termed “teaching Africans lessons.”
“They know what the problems are,” he said.
The Nigerian Mr. Musa Yar’adua said the partnership with Africa forum discussed freely and frankly issues about Africa’s relationship with Europe.
He said issues like under-development, ignorance, peace conflict within the context of globalization are human problems and not African problems.
On the Economic Partnership Agreements, Mr.Yar’ adua said ECOWAS is not divided over the signing of the agreement. He said what is being discussed is being discussed at the regional level and hopefully decisions would be reached.
The Nigerian President said the ultimate aim of the partnership is human development.
The President of Benin Thomas Boni Yayi said Africa would like to keep its relationship with Europe in spite of the disagreements on the signing of the EPAs.
“We are continuing our negotiations and dialogue,” he said.
The President of Botswana Festus G. Mogae on his part said it is important for African governments to establish enabling Environments for private Sector Development.
The President of Mozambique, Amando Guebuza said it is wrong for people to refer to the whole of Africa as a country when indeed Africa is a continent.
He said the African Union establishes the mechanism that allow Africans to move ahead and demonstrate democratic, human rights and press freedom principles.
The President of Madagascar Mr. Marc Ralvomanana on his part said Africans should build their capacity in terms of leadership and negotiation.
“It is important for Africa to choose good leaders based on mutual trust.”
African countries have been advised to invest some money in China studies in order to deal with that country effectively and efficiently.
An advisor to the German Government on the African Initiative Prof Gyimah –
Boadi said this in an interview after the third German/Europe –African Dialogue on Development cooperation in Ebarbach near Wiesbaden in Germany.
“We need to learn the Chinese language, understand Chinese culture and politics,” Prof, Gyimah- Boadi who is the Executive Director of the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development. (CDD) said.
He said Africans know the British and the Americans to some extent and this makes it easier in dealing with them.
For instance he said Africans have studied in British schools, have intermarriages with the British people and understands their language.
“When it comes to China, we don’t know them,
They have studied us and know us and that is why they are coming to us,” he said.
He said the Chinese relationship with African countries in recent years has brought some competition in African trade relations with the rest of the World.
“Suddenly Europe and America has to compete with China over Africa,” he said adding,
“If you have something to sell and there are many buyers it is fine,” he said.
Prof. Gyimah-Boadi said the question now is whether African countries will be able to make the good choices.
“This is a question that should be answered by only Africa and not Europe or America,” he said.
Prof. Gyimah-Boadi further explained that.
He said Europeans did not come to Africa as missionaries and charity givers and the same thing applies to china. He all these investors have business interests which Africa must watch cautiously.
Speaking on the relevance of the Summit itself, Prof. Gyimah -Boadi said the forum gave the opportunity for Africa to tap the brains of some of its sons and daughters who for some reasons are not living in their countries.
He said although the German President Mr. Horst Kohler has no decision making powers, he has persuasive skills which help to change the mind of his people towards African issues.
At a press conference after the summit, the summit, the German President Mr. Kohler Europeans and other Western n leaders to refrain from what he termed “teaching Africans lessons.”
“They know what the problems are,” he said.
The Nigerian Mr. Musa Yar’adua said the partnership with Africa forum discussed freely and frankly issues about Africa’s relationship with Europe.
He said issues like under-development, ignorance, peace conflict within the context of globalization are human problems and not African problems.
On the Economic Partnership Agreements, Mr.Yar’ adua said ECOWAS is not divided over the signing of the agreement. He said what is being discussed is being discussed at the regional level and hopefully decisions would be reached.
The Nigerian President said the ultimate aim of the partnership is human development.
The President of Benin Thomas Boni Yayi said Africa would like to keep its relationship with Europe in spite of the disagreements on the signing of the EPAs.
“We are continuing our negotiations and dialogue,” he said.
The President of Botswana Festus G. Mogae on his part said it is important for African governments to establish enabling Environments for private Sector Development.
The President of Mozambique, Amando Guebuza said it is wrong for people to refer to the whole of Africa as a country when indeed Africa is a continent.
He said the African Union establishes the mechanism that allow Africans to move ahead and demonstrate democratic, human rights and press freedom principles.
The President of Madagascar Mr. Marc Ralvomanana on his part said Africans should build their capacity in terms of leadership and negotiation.
“It is important for Africa to choose good leaders based on mutual trust.”
Kohler says Germany is supporting Africa to attain MDGs
By Isabella Gyau Orhin, Berlin, Germany
The German President Mr. Horst Kohler has said that Germany has a plan to speed up the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Africa and other parts of the world by the year 2015.
This he said is being done by ensuring the payment of 0.7 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by the year 2015 as Germany’s contribution to funding the MDGs.
The President was speaking at a meeting with 10 media personnel from Africa in Berlin recently.
The meeting was organized by INWENT, a capacity building organization in partnership with the Office of the German President as part of preparation towards the Germany/EU Dialogue on Development Cooperation to be held in Frankfurt in early November..
“When I was in Washington in the year 2003 or 2004, the contribution of Germany was 0.25 percent of GDP, now it is 0.36 percent and we hope to raise it to 0.5 percent in 2010 and hopefully to 0.7 percent by 2015,” says Mr. Kohler who is also a former director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
He said the Ministry of Economic Cooperation was working within the framework of the European Union (EU) to shape negotiation for development relations with Africa.
“There is a clear commitment on the part of our Chancellor Mrs. Angela Merkel and our Minister for Economic Cooperation to deliver on their promise,” Mr. Kohler said.
Mr. Kohler also said his country is working within the framework of the European Union to shape the negotiations for a development friendly trade in the direction of openings of markets in Europe for products coming from Africa.
“I am trying to mediate but Europe has to reconsider some elements of its own African concept,” Mr. Kohler said adding, “I very much hope that this meeting in Portugal between African and the Europeans will bring some major steps forward.”
He also said there is the need to put the issue of migration on the table. “I still feel that there is not yet a clear understanding what it means for Africans to come to Europe as refugees or people who just want to escape hunger and trouble.”
Highlighting more on the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPAs) Mr. Kohler said there is the need to move from existing trade regime to a more open trade regime.
What is difficult he said was how to deal with the existing trade preferences that are hanging within the new trade regime.
The President further said trade negotiators from Europe and the United states see the need to reduce existing trade preferences for Africa, adding, “This is an issue where we need a transition period to handle carefully enough.”
The German President also made mention of the fact that African negotiators “are detecting a bit more of their power within international negotiations.”
I don’t want to give judgment of what is right or wrong, you need to know what is good for your continent,” he said adding, “My position is that we need to do something about double standards in international trade regime, we should not preach to others market economy and while we ourselves are very reluctant to reduce the impediments to trade,”
Africans have a deadline to sign on to……………………………………………………….
The Co President of the Heinrich Boll Foundation which is a subsidiary of the Green Party in Germany Barbara Unmuesig says Africa can use its relationship with China to negotiate with Europe on the EPAs.
She said “Europe realizes that they have not done their home work well when it comes to dealing with Africa in the post war years and China has cleverly stepped in.”
She said China is investing heavily in Africa with sophistication while the Europeans feel China is undermining IMF/World Bank conditionalities, conditionalities of good governance and human rights among others.
Europeans are worried that China is becoming more influential in Africa while its main interest is in the gas and oil resources of Africa.
According to Barbara Unmuessig, while Africa can exploit the situation to its advantage, it must watch China carefully since that country can fall into trouble due to its undemocratic stance.
By Isabella Gyau Orhin, Berlin, Germany
The German President Mr. Horst Kohler has said that Germany has a plan to speed up the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Africa and other parts of the world by the year 2015.
This he said is being done by ensuring the payment of 0.7 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by the year 2015 as Germany’s contribution to funding the MDGs.
The President was speaking at a meeting with 10 media personnel from Africa in Berlin recently.
The meeting was organized by INWENT, a capacity building organization in partnership with the Office of the German President as part of preparation towards the Germany/EU Dialogue on Development Cooperation to be held in Frankfurt in early November..
“When I was in Washington in the year 2003 or 2004, the contribution of Germany was 0.25 percent of GDP, now it is 0.36 percent and we hope to raise it to 0.5 percent in 2010 and hopefully to 0.7 percent by 2015,” says Mr. Kohler who is also a former director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
He said the Ministry of Economic Cooperation was working within the framework of the European Union (EU) to shape negotiation for development relations with Africa.
“There is a clear commitment on the part of our Chancellor Mrs. Angela Merkel and our Minister for Economic Cooperation to deliver on their promise,” Mr. Kohler said.
Mr. Kohler also said his country is working within the framework of the European Union to shape the negotiations for a development friendly trade in the direction of openings of markets in Europe for products coming from Africa.
“I am trying to mediate but Europe has to reconsider some elements of its own African concept,” Mr. Kohler said adding, “I very much hope that this meeting in Portugal between African and the Europeans will bring some major steps forward.”
He also said there is the need to put the issue of migration on the table. “I still feel that there is not yet a clear understanding what it means for Africans to come to Europe as refugees or people who just want to escape hunger and trouble.”
Highlighting more on the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPAs) Mr. Kohler said there is the need to move from existing trade regime to a more open trade regime.
What is difficult he said was how to deal with the existing trade preferences that are hanging within the new trade regime.
The President further said trade negotiators from Europe and the United states see the need to reduce existing trade preferences for Africa, adding, “This is an issue where we need a transition period to handle carefully enough.”
The German President also made mention of the fact that African negotiators “are detecting a bit more of their power within international negotiations.”
I don’t want to give judgment of what is right or wrong, you need to know what is good for your continent,” he said adding, “My position is that we need to do something about double standards in international trade regime, we should not preach to others market economy and while we ourselves are very reluctant to reduce the impediments to trade,”
Africans have a deadline to sign on to……………………………………………………….
The Co President of the Heinrich Boll Foundation which is a subsidiary of the Green Party in Germany Barbara Unmuesig says Africa can use its relationship with China to negotiate with Europe on the EPAs.
She said “Europe realizes that they have not done their home work well when it comes to dealing with Africa in the post war years and China has cleverly stepped in.”
She said China is investing heavily in Africa with sophistication while the Europeans feel China is undermining IMF/World Bank conditionalities, conditionalities of good governance and human rights among others.
Europeans are worried that China is becoming more influential in Africa while its main interest is in the gas and oil resources of Africa.
According to Barbara Unmuessig, while Africa can exploit the situation to its advantage, it must watch China carefully since that country can fall into trouble due to its undemocratic stance.
Kohler says Germany is supporting Africa to attain MDGs
By Isabella Gyau Orhin, Berlin, Germany
The German President Mr. Horst Kohler has said that Germany has a plan to speed up the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Africa and other parts of the world by the year 2015.
This he said is being done by ensuring the payment of 0.7 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by the year 2015 as Germany’s contribution to funding the MDGs.
The President was speaking at a meeting with 10 media personnel from Africa in Berlin recently.
The meeting was organized by INWENT, a capacity building organization in partnership with the Office of the German President as part of preparation towards the Germany/EU Dialogue on Development Cooperation to be held in Frankfurt in early November..
“When I was in Washington in the year 2003 or 2004, the contribution of Germany was 0.25 percent of GDP, now it is 0.36 percent and we hope to raise it to 0.5 percent in 2010 and hopefully to 0.7 percent by 2015,” says Mr. Kohler who is also a former director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
He said the Ministry of Economic Cooperation was working within the framework of the European Union (EU) to shape negotiation for development relations with Africa.
“There is a clear commitment on the part of our Chancellor Mrs. Angela Merkel and our Minister for Economic Cooperation to deliver on their promise,” Mr. Kohler said.
Mr. Kohler also said his country is working within the framework of the European Union to shape the negotiations for a development friendly trade in the direction of openings of markets in Europe for products coming from Africa.
“I am trying to mediate but Europe has to reconsider some elements of its own African concept,” Mr. Kohler said adding, “I very much hope that this meeting in Portugal between African and the Europeans will bring some major steps forward.”
He also said there is the need to put the issue of migration on the table. “I still feel that there is not yet a clear understanding what it means for Africans to come to Europe as refugees or people who just want to escape hunger and trouble.”
Highlighting more on the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPAs) Mr. Kohler said there is the need to move from existing trade regime to a more open trade regime.
What is difficult he said was how to deal with the existing trade preferences that are hanging within the new trade regime.
The President further said trade negotiators from Europe and the United states see the need to reduce existing trade preferences for Africa, adding, “This is an issue where we need a transition period to handle carefully enough.”
The German President also made mention of the fact that African negotiators “are detecting a bit more of their power within international negotiations.”
I don’t want to give judgment of what is right or wrong, you need to know what is good for your continent,” he said adding, “My position is that we need to do something about double standards in international trade regime, we should not preach to others market economy and while we ourselves are very reluctant to reduce the impediments to trade,”
Africans have a deadline to sign on to……………………………………………………….
The Co President of the Heinrich Boll Foundation which is a subsidiary of the Green Party in Germany Barbara Unmuesig says Africa can use its relationship with China to negotiate with Europe on the EPAs.
She said “Europe realizes that they have not done their home work well when it comes to dealing with Africa in the post war years and China has cleverly stepped in.”
She said China is investing heavily in Africa with sophistication while the Europeans feel China is undermining IMF/World Bank conditionalities, conditionalities of good governance and human rights among others.
Europeans are worried that China is becoming more influential in Africa while its main interest is in the gas and oil resources of Africa.
According to Barbara Unmuessig, while Africa can exploit the situation to its advantage, it must watch China carefully since that country can fall into trouble due to its undemocratic stance.
By Isabella Gyau Orhin, Berlin, Germany
The German President Mr. Horst Kohler has said that Germany has a plan to speed up the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Africa and other parts of the world by the year 2015.
This he said is being done by ensuring the payment of 0.7 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by the year 2015 as Germany’s contribution to funding the MDGs.
The President was speaking at a meeting with 10 media personnel from Africa in Berlin recently.
The meeting was organized by INWENT, a capacity building organization in partnership with the Office of the German President as part of preparation towards the Germany/EU Dialogue on Development Cooperation to be held in Frankfurt in early November..
“When I was in Washington in the year 2003 or 2004, the contribution of Germany was 0.25 percent of GDP, now it is 0.36 percent and we hope to raise it to 0.5 percent in 2010 and hopefully to 0.7 percent by 2015,” says Mr. Kohler who is also a former director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
He said the Ministry of Economic Cooperation was working within the framework of the European Union (EU) to shape negotiation for development relations with Africa.
“There is a clear commitment on the part of our Chancellor Mrs. Angela Merkel and our Minister for Economic Cooperation to deliver on their promise,” Mr. Kohler said.
Mr. Kohler also said his country is working within the framework of the European Union to shape the negotiations for a development friendly trade in the direction of openings of markets in Europe for products coming from Africa.
“I am trying to mediate but Europe has to reconsider some elements of its own African concept,” Mr. Kohler said adding, “I very much hope that this meeting in Portugal between African and the Europeans will bring some major steps forward.”
He also said there is the need to put the issue of migration on the table. “I still feel that there is not yet a clear understanding what it means for Africans to come to Europe as refugees or people who just want to escape hunger and trouble.”
Highlighting more on the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPAs) Mr. Kohler said there is the need to move from existing trade regime to a more open trade regime.
What is difficult he said was how to deal with the existing trade preferences that are hanging within the new trade regime.
The President further said trade negotiators from Europe and the United states see the need to reduce existing trade preferences for Africa, adding, “This is an issue where we need a transition period to handle carefully enough.”
The German President also made mention of the fact that African negotiators “are detecting a bit more of their power within international negotiations.”
I don’t want to give judgment of what is right or wrong, you need to know what is good for your continent,” he said adding, “My position is that we need to do something about double standards in international trade regime, we should not preach to others market economy and while we ourselves are very reluctant to reduce the impediments to trade,”
Africans have a deadline to sign on to……………………………………………………….
The Co President of the Heinrich Boll Foundation which is a subsidiary of the Green Party in Germany Barbara Unmuesig says Africa can use its relationship with China to negotiate with Europe on the EPAs.
She said “Europe realizes that they have not done their home work well when it comes to dealing with Africa in the post war years and China has cleverly stepped in.”
She said China is investing heavily in Africa with sophistication while the Europeans feel China is undermining IMF/World Bank conditionalities, conditionalities of good governance and human rights among others.
Europeans are worried that China is becoming more influential in Africa while its main interest is in the gas and oil resources of Africa.
According to Barbara Unmuessig, while Africa can exploit the situation to its advantage, it must watch China carefully since that country can fall into trouble due to its undemocratic stance.
Africa and EU may settle for a temporary trade agreement
...................As deadline for EPAs approaches
By Isabella Gyau Orhin
Writes from Brussels
Africa and the European Union may have to settle on other temporary trade agreements come January 2008.
This is as a result of the stance taken by both parties in the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) negotiations.
Speaking to a team of African media personnel in the EU headquarters in Brussels recently, an assistant of the EU Trade Commissioner Mr. Stephen Adams said negotiations with the Caribbean countries are far advanced and the Caribbean countries may be likely to sign the EPAs by the scheduled date of December 2007.
“We may just focus on agricultural and manufactured products for the time being with the African countries,” he said
“What we should remember is that we all agreed in 2001 to change the situation and gave ourselves seven years to do that,” Adams said in a briefing.
Giving a background to the Cotonou agreement which was signed on 23rd June 2000 and revised in Luxembourg in 2005, he said that agreement was based on historical circumstances and the special relationship between the EU and the ACP countries.
Some of the provisions of this agreement he said are in contravention of World Trade Organisation (WTO) regulations which insist that trade relations should be reciprocal.
According to Adams, other developing countries, particularly in Latin America who are outside the ACP have threatened to sue the EU at the WTO if it does not put an end to its preferential treatment for ACP countries.
“This is what we have spent the last seven years doing in order to prevent ourselves from a law suit from the other developing world,” Adams explained.
“The notion here is that the EU discriminates in its trade relations by having different trade arrangements with developing countries,” he added.
He said since the Cotonou agreement is based on preferential access, it does not provide any incentives for the ACP counties to diversify their exports or add value to them.
“We want to use the EPAs to change that,” he said adding, “ at the heart of the EPAs is regional market building so that the EU can negotiate with regional groupings instead of individual countries.”
Mr. Adams also said the EU is not asking ACP countries to liberalize their markets on the same scale as the EU would. “We are just asking them to liberalize just enough to meet WTO regulations,” he said.
According to him, the EU is also guaranteeing increased aid for development assistance although development assistance is not being negotiated as part of EPAs.
Reacting to allegations that the EU is trying to smuggle the Singaporean issues of Investment, Competition and Public Procurement in the EPAs, Mr. Adams said, the EU is not insisting that the Singaporean issues which have been taken off the table at the Multilateral level should be included at all cost in the EPA negotiations.
“The catalyst in Asian wealth is from international capital markets and most investors invest outside Africa, it is about creating the right conditions and agreeing on clear investment rules,” he said adding, “a lot of NGOs have taken this to mean that the EU is forcing the issue of Investment on ACP countries.”
He also explained that the EU cannot accede to calls by NGOs to give Generalized Systems of Preferences Plus (GPS+) to African countries which even give better assess to countries in terms of trading with the EU.
He said the GPS+ is given to countries that have signed international conventions such as the Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) agreements on Labour Standards and sustainable development.
Mr. Adams who is a speech writer for EU Trade Commissioner Mr. Peter Mandelson was of the view that most African countries have not signed on to such conventions and as such the EU risks another law suit at the WTO if it attempts to put ACP countries in that category which the EU uses to promote social standards around the world.
In an open letter to anti poverty campaigners who appear to have succeeded in convincing ACP governments not to sign the EPAs, EU Trade Commissioner Mr. Peter Mandelson said “By assisting with the creation of regional markets and accompanying the sometimes difficult adjustments these entails the EU is standing by the side of its ACP partners in their drive to adapt to the challenges of globalization.”
He said no question in Europe’s trade development policy is more pressing than how that continent can use trade to help ACP countries build strong economies.
He said ACP countries received 1.6 billion euros in development assistance over the period 2001-2005 through the European Development Fund and the EU budget.
“Not only will these assistance continue and increase but also ACP countries will be major beneficiaries of the decision to increase Europe’s spending on aid for trade to 2 billion euros.
But critics say that is too small considering the fact that China is investing over five billion dollars in the Democratic Republic of Congo alone.
An article in The Guardian of UK on October 31, 2007 co- authored by Peter Madelson and the EU Development Commissioner Louis Michel, argues that the current trade arrangements discriminate in favour of developing countries. “This is not morally right nor is it compatible with international trade rules.
“Unless we agree on new compatible arrangements with ACP countries we will have to fall back on our Default Preference Scheme for all developing countries which is less generous than our current scheme,” the article said adding, “the EU is not threatening to raise tariffs for these countries, it is doing everything it can to avoid it.”
African countries particularly those in ECOWAS say removing tariffs within regional blocs to strengthen regional trade will cut down revenue for development among others while civil society groups are standing by them.
By Isabella Gyau Orhin
Writes from Brussels
Africa and the European Union may have to settle on other temporary trade agreements come January 2008.
This is as a result of the stance taken by both parties in the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) negotiations.
Speaking to a team of African media personnel in the EU headquarters in Brussels recently, an assistant of the EU Trade Commissioner Mr. Stephen Adams said negotiations with the Caribbean countries are far advanced and the Caribbean countries may be likely to sign the EPAs by the scheduled date of December 2007.
“We may just focus on agricultural and manufactured products for the time being with the African countries,” he said
“What we should remember is that we all agreed in 2001 to change the situation and gave ourselves seven years to do that,” Adams said in a briefing.
Giving a background to the Cotonou agreement which was signed on 23rd June 2000 and revised in Luxembourg in 2005, he said that agreement was based on historical circumstances and the special relationship between the EU and the ACP countries.
Some of the provisions of this agreement he said are in contravention of World Trade Organisation (WTO) regulations which insist that trade relations should be reciprocal.
According to Adams, other developing countries, particularly in Latin America who are outside the ACP have threatened to sue the EU at the WTO if it does not put an end to its preferential treatment for ACP countries.
“This is what we have spent the last seven years doing in order to prevent ourselves from a law suit from the other developing world,” Adams explained.
“The notion here is that the EU discriminates in its trade relations by having different trade arrangements with developing countries,” he added.
He said since the Cotonou agreement is based on preferential access, it does not provide any incentives for the ACP counties to diversify their exports or add value to them.
“We want to use the EPAs to change that,” he said adding, “ at the heart of the EPAs is regional market building so that the EU can negotiate with regional groupings instead of individual countries.”
Mr. Adams also said the EU is not asking ACP countries to liberalize their markets on the same scale as the EU would. “We are just asking them to liberalize just enough to meet WTO regulations,” he said.
According to him, the EU is also guaranteeing increased aid for development assistance although development assistance is not being negotiated as part of EPAs.
Reacting to allegations that the EU is trying to smuggle the Singaporean issues of Investment, Competition and Public Procurement in the EPAs, Mr. Adams said, the EU is not insisting that the Singaporean issues which have been taken off the table at the Multilateral level should be included at all cost in the EPA negotiations.
“The catalyst in Asian wealth is from international capital markets and most investors invest outside Africa, it is about creating the right conditions and agreeing on clear investment rules,” he said adding, “a lot of NGOs have taken this to mean that the EU is forcing the issue of Investment on ACP countries.”
He also explained that the EU cannot accede to calls by NGOs to give Generalized Systems of Preferences Plus (GPS+) to African countries which even give better assess to countries in terms of trading with the EU.
He said the GPS+ is given to countries that have signed international conventions such as the Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) agreements on Labour Standards and sustainable development.
Mr. Adams who is a speech writer for EU Trade Commissioner Mr. Peter Mandelson was of the view that most African countries have not signed on to such conventions and as such the EU risks another law suit at the WTO if it attempts to put ACP countries in that category which the EU uses to promote social standards around the world.
In an open letter to anti poverty campaigners who appear to have succeeded in convincing ACP governments not to sign the EPAs, EU Trade Commissioner Mr. Peter Mandelson said “By assisting with the creation of regional markets and accompanying the sometimes difficult adjustments these entails the EU is standing by the side of its ACP partners in their drive to adapt to the challenges of globalization.”
He said no question in Europe’s trade development policy is more pressing than how that continent can use trade to help ACP countries build strong economies.
He said ACP countries received 1.6 billion euros in development assistance over the period 2001-2005 through the European Development Fund and the EU budget.
“Not only will these assistance continue and increase but also ACP countries will be major beneficiaries of the decision to increase Europe’s spending on aid for trade to 2 billion euros.
But critics say that is too small considering the fact that China is investing over five billion dollars in the Democratic Republic of Congo alone.
An article in The Guardian of UK on October 31, 2007 co- authored by Peter Madelson and the EU Development Commissioner Louis Michel, argues that the current trade arrangements discriminate in favour of developing countries. “This is not morally right nor is it compatible with international trade rules.
“Unless we agree on new compatible arrangements with ACP countries we will have to fall back on our Default Preference Scheme for all developing countries which is less generous than our current scheme,” the article said adding, “the EU is not threatening to raise tariffs for these countries, it is doing everything it can to avoid it.”
African countries particularly those in ECOWAS say removing tariffs within regional blocs to strengthen regional trade will cut down revenue for development among others while civil society groups are standing by them.
EU strategise to compete with China over Africa
By Isabella Gyau Orhin
European business executives, academics and politicians have admitted that their relationship with Africa over the years have left a vacuum which China is gleefully filling up with infrastructural development and huge forms of unconditional aid.
Speaking to a group of African Journalists in Berlin last week, the Head of the African division of the Association of the German Chambers of Industry and Commerce Mr. Hieko Schwiderowski said as far back as 1971, a World Bank report cited lack of infrastructural development and energy supply as the key problems facing African countries.
“After all these years if the same problems still persist, then it means we have not chosen the right focal point of our investments in Africa,” he said adding, “This the Chinese have found.”
European diplomats also say Europe is re-defining its relationship with Africa and this has resulted in a new European Union Strategy for Africa.
The strategy dubbed “from Cairo to Lisbon-the EU-Africa strategic Partnership” is set to be discussed at the upcoming EU-Africa summit in Lisbon, Portugal.
The draft states in introduction that “Africa is now at the heart of international politics.”
The document further explains that the African Union (AU) in particular “is emerging not as a development issue but as a political actor in its own right.”
The EU remains the first economic partner of Africa, with exportation of merchandise amounting to 91.6 billion euros and imports reaching 125.6 billion euros in 2005.
Again in 2006, Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) from the EU to Africa amounted to 48 billion.
The EU Strategy also makes mention of the fact that China has rapidly emerged as Africa’s third most important trade partner with a total trade amounting to 43 billion euros in 2006 and up from 30 billion euros in 2005.
The drafting of this strategy started in 2000 at an EU-Africa summit in Cairo, Egypt.
“The Cairo declaration and the Cairo Plan of Action signed at this summit contained a number of ambitious commitments including the return of stolen cultural goods and on Africa’s external debts,” the strategy said adding, “More important perhaps, the Cairo Summit set in motion more structured political dialogue between EU and Africa with regular meetings of senior officials and Ministers”.
The strategy also says that in many ways 2005, became the international year for Africa. A number of high level events were held and important international initiatives were launched including major commitment on aid and debt relief at the G8 Gleneagles summit, following the Paris Declaration on Aid effectiveness among others.
However, there are diplomats and politicians in the EU who are not happy about the way former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and his vice Gordon Brown hijacked the Europe – Africa debt issue with Music and concerts all in an alleged bid to raise their party and UK profile both home and abroad.
“We worked very hard during the Monterrey Summit in Mexico in 2002 and the G8 meeting in Kananaskis in Canada with African leaders on the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). Therefore it was not fair that Blair and Co, hijacked the whole issue with their own African initiative,” an EU diplomat who refused to go on record told the African journalists.
Commenting on the current trends in Africa in Brussels last Monday, a Lecturer at the University of Brussels Jonathan Holslag said “Africa is running out of red carpet these days. Not a month passes without some high-level delegation from a far-flung corner of the world;” he said adding “Re-emerging powers are in the vanguard of those rushing to gain new influence in Africa.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin, Brazilian President Lula da Silva, Chinese Leader Hu Jintao and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh have in the last year all trodden the same path to the African continent.
The United States he said is also pursuing Africa for its own interests. US has changed its policies towards Africa after September 11, and is said to be pursuing oil interests in Africa.
Germany in 2005 launched an African Initiative while Russia in 2006 also launched a New African strategy on gas and oil
Describing it as “a new scramble for Africa,” Holslag says it has been a marked shift away from the “Africa fatigue” of the 1990s, even if Africa’s reappearance on the diplomatic map has not been entirely to its own credit.
Holslag also says these developments in Africa have clearly confirmed the way globalization is entering a new stage. He explained that the west as the world’s main industrial powerhouse is outsourcing more ad more of its resource –intensive activities to Asia, at the same time, Asia’s growth is strengthening the position of the world’s large oil and gas producers in Africa.
This he said is what is threatening the longstanding Europe-African relationship of the 20th century.
“Africa is reorienting its economic focus and even if Europe still remains the main partner in terms of trade, aid and investment, its relative influence is shrinking,” Holslag said.
He explained further that Africa’s re-orientation is as much the consequence of actual changes in trade patterns as it is of the high expectations Africans have of more lucrative transactions in the years ahead.
“Now the EU is still Africa’s privileged political partner, but China, Russia, India and Brazil are turning their African embassies into new diplomatic nerve centres.” Holslag said.
Unlike the first scramble for Africa which was also about its natural resources, Holslag says Africa stands to benefit from the current scramble.
The only warning he said is to ensure that China does not influence the continent’s domestic politics.
European business executives, academics and politicians have admitted that their relationship with Africa over the years have left a vacuum which China is gleefully filling up with infrastructural development and huge forms of unconditional aid.
Speaking to a group of African Journalists in Berlin last week, the Head of the African division of the Association of the German Chambers of Industry and Commerce Mr. Hieko Schwiderowski said as far back as 1971, a World Bank report cited lack of infrastructural development and energy supply as the key problems facing African countries.
“After all these years if the same problems still persist, then it means we have not chosen the right focal point of our investments in Africa,” he said adding, “This the Chinese have found.”
European diplomats also say Europe is re-defining its relationship with Africa and this has resulted in a new European Union Strategy for Africa.
The strategy dubbed “from Cairo to Lisbon-the EU-Africa strategic Partnership” is set to be discussed at the upcoming EU-Africa summit in Lisbon, Portugal.
The draft states in introduction that “Africa is now at the heart of international politics.”
The document further explains that the African Union (AU) in particular “is emerging not as a development issue but as a political actor in its own right.”
The EU remains the first economic partner of Africa, with exportation of merchandise amounting to 91.6 billion euros and imports reaching 125.6 billion euros in 2005.
Again in 2006, Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) from the EU to Africa amounted to 48 billion.
The EU Strategy also makes mention of the fact that China has rapidly emerged as Africa’s third most important trade partner with a total trade amounting to 43 billion euros in 2006 and up from 30 billion euros in 2005.
The drafting of this strategy started in 2000 at an EU-Africa summit in Cairo, Egypt.
“The Cairo declaration and the Cairo Plan of Action signed at this summit contained a number of ambitious commitments including the return of stolen cultural goods and on Africa’s external debts,” the strategy said adding, “More important perhaps, the Cairo Summit set in motion more structured political dialogue between EU and Africa with regular meetings of senior officials and Ministers”.
The strategy also says that in many ways 2005, became the international year for Africa. A number of high level events were held and important international initiatives were launched including major commitment on aid and debt relief at the G8 Gleneagles summit, following the Paris Declaration on Aid effectiveness among others.
However, there are diplomats and politicians in the EU who are not happy about the way former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and his vice Gordon Brown hijacked the Europe – Africa debt issue with Music and concerts all in an alleged bid to raise their party and UK profile both home and abroad.
“We worked very hard during the Monterrey Summit in Mexico in 2002 and the G8 meeting in Kananaskis in Canada with African leaders on the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). Therefore it was not fair that Blair and Co, hijacked the whole issue with their own African initiative,” an EU diplomat who refused to go on record told the African journalists.
Commenting on the current trends in Africa in Brussels last Monday, a Lecturer at the University of Brussels Jonathan Holslag said “Africa is running out of red carpet these days. Not a month passes without some high-level delegation from a far-flung corner of the world;” he said adding “Re-emerging powers are in the vanguard of those rushing to gain new influence in Africa.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin, Brazilian President Lula da Silva, Chinese Leader Hu Jintao and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh have in the last year all trodden the same path to the African continent.
The United States he said is also pursuing Africa for its own interests. US has changed its policies towards Africa after September 11, and is said to be pursuing oil interests in Africa.
Germany in 2005 launched an African Initiative while Russia in 2006 also launched a New African strategy on gas and oil
Describing it as “a new scramble for Africa,” Holslag says it has been a marked shift away from the “Africa fatigue” of the 1990s, even if Africa’s reappearance on the diplomatic map has not been entirely to its own credit.
Holslag also says these developments in Africa have clearly confirmed the way globalization is entering a new stage. He explained that the west as the world’s main industrial powerhouse is outsourcing more ad more of its resource –intensive activities to Asia, at the same time, Asia’s growth is strengthening the position of the world’s large oil and gas producers in Africa.
This he said is what is threatening the longstanding Europe-African relationship of the 20th century.
“Africa is reorienting its economic focus and even if Europe still remains the main partner in terms of trade, aid and investment, its relative influence is shrinking,” Holslag said.
He explained further that Africa’s re-orientation is as much the consequence of actual changes in trade patterns as it is of the high expectations Africans have of more lucrative transactions in the years ahead.
“Now the EU is still Africa’s privileged political partner, but China, Russia, India and Brazil are turning their African embassies into new diplomatic nerve centres.” Holslag said.
Unlike the first scramble for Africa which was also about its natural resources, Holslag says Africa stands to benefit from the current scramble.
The only warning he said is to ensure that China does not influence the continent’s domestic politics.
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