SPEECH/08/419
José Manuel
Durão Barroso
President of the European Commission
"The EU and
Africa: a Partnership base on
Dialogue"
Africa week
Brussels, 11 September 2008
Presidents,
Commissioner,
Distinguished guests,
Let me first compliment the European Parliament for hosting 'Africa Week' - a most welcome initiative. Let me also thank you for inviting me to speak alongside so many prestigious guests from both Africa and Europe.
The programme for Africa Week clearly demonstrates that dialogue and cultural exchange are the way forward, if we are to foster and cement mutual understanding between the peoples of our two continents.
It also demonstrates the sheer variety of African cultural expressions, and the vitality of Africa's creative spirit - from literature to music, from dance to photography, from cinema to fashion.
As many of you know, 2008 has been designated the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue. This gives Africa Week even greater significance. Not only has 2008 brought intercultural dialogue within Europe to the top of the political agenda, it has also emphasised the role that dialogue plays in shaping relations with our partners. This is particularly true for our partners in Africa.
After the success of last December's EU-Africa Summit, this is also an important year for implementing the Africa-EU Partnership, which was agreed in Lisbon by African and European Heads of State and Government. This partnership embodies a new vision of relations between Europe and Africa: a relationship between equal partners determined to tackle global challenges together, including food security, migration, energy and climate change.
But that doesn't mean that strengthening ties between Europe and Africa is the exclusive preserve of the politicians. It is designed to involve all stakeholders, including continental institutions – such as the African Union and the European Union – their Member States and Regional Economic Communities, civil society organisations, the private sector, artists, researchers and scientists.
And it is important to recall that both the Pan-African Parliament and the European Parliament will play a key role in implementing and monitoring this strategic partnership. Involving both parliaments in this way ensures democratic and public scrutiny over the progress we make, and guarantees accountability.
I welcome the close co-operation already established between the two assemblies. We in the European Commission, and our African counterparts, are ready to explore ways of enhancing this parliamentary participation further, and promoting capacity building in the area of good governance.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The European Union has often been referred to as a community of cultures and values, built on respect for cultural diversity.
I believe that creating an intercultural dialogue helps build similar bonds between Europe and Africa. Ours is a relationship based on mutual respect and joint responsibility. It is about what we can do together.
Today, thanks to the Joint Africa-EU Strategy, we have a shared vision and common policy framework in place to unlock the full potential of this partnership. A partnership where dialogue, culture, and the positive role of migrants in Europe and in Africa feature prominently.
Let me also touch on the issue of cultural cooperation, and the question of support from the international community for Africa's diverse cultural heritage.
The EU and many African nations have been active in implementing the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. I am pleased to note the steady progress towards ratification by many African countries, and the European Commission is keen to pursue cooperation in this area with all its African partners, including the African Union.
The UNESCO Convention invites all of us to reflect on ways to better integrate culture in development policies. It calls on us to strengthen international cooperation, in order to foster more balanced exchanges of cultural expressions, as well as to reinforce the capacities of cultural industries in developing countries.
It is clear that culture has a dual role in development cooperation: on the one hand it is a political tool able to create and promote a sense of national and regional identity, and achieve consensus in fragmented societies. Culture is a strong element of regional integration and an important vector of peace and stability.
On the other hand, culture is an economic sector like any other, generating employment and income. We must recognise that Africa has huge potential in this regard.
Before concluding these brief remarks, I would like to reiterate my conviction that intercultural dialogue between Europe and Africa offers important opportunities for both sides to learn about each other and to transfer knowledge.
Intercultural dialogue will also be high on the agenda of the 3rd edition of the European Development Days, which will take place in Strasbourg in November, back to back with the plenary session of the European Parliament.
Together with President Sarkozy, I have already sent an invitation to President Pöttering and I hope that many of you who are present here today will also be able to attend. This year's event will focus on the local dimension of development cooperation and its significance in the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.
With its high-level participants and discussions, the Development Days have provided a useful forum to enhance the dialogue between the EU and our partners, and strengthen our cooperation. The participation of the Pan-African Parliament and the European Parliament was a great asset last year in Lisbon, and I am looking forward to welcoming you again this year in Strasbourg.
In conclusion, culture is an important tool in bringing Africa and Europe together: a process to which I have been personally devoted for many years. So let's seize the opportunities that Africa Week provides!
Thank you.