Head of EU Delegation to Ghana, Ambassador Claude Maerten
The Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) of the European Union (EU) has renewed its support to West African trade by approving a fund of 6.5 billion euros to the Economic Partnership Agreement Programme (PAPED) for 2015 to 2020.
Speaking in a breakfast meeting with Diplomatic Call on Thursday, March 24, 2014, the Head of EU Delegation to Ghana, Ambassador Claude Maerten said that the EU was pleased with the efforts and progress made by West African countries and regional institutions to foster regional integration and this has called for a renewal of the partnership agreement.
“The funds will greatly enhance trade and investment flows to West African countries by contributing to their development, sustainable growth and poverty reduction” he added.
Mr. Maerten said that this new development reaffirms the principles of the Council conclusions of 10th May 2010 concerning the PAPED and the importance of national and regional ownership.
He also revealed that the EU through its member states and the European Investment Bank (EIB) has provided more than 8.5 billion euros support to the PAPED from 2010 to 2014; exceeding the Council’s initial commitment of 6.5 billion euros.
According to him, the EU’s commitment towards the economic prosperity of Africa is demonstrated in FAC’s resolve to support the new trade policy affirming its continuous support to West Africa’s regional integration, which he described as the most advanced on the African continent.
Mr. Maerten said that the EU acknowledged EPA as an important step for the partnership between West Africa and the European Union, in line with the Joint-Africa-EU Strategy, for sustainable economic development that can benefit the West African population including its poorest segments.
“The EPA would be instrumental to create favorable conditions to boost trade in the region and stimulate growth and job creation, while the development of the region would contribute to increase peace and stability in West Africa” he explained.
The PAPED, which is an essential element of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), is designed to strengthen West African economies through the production and export of a wider range of goods, and by increasing trade between the countries in the region.
The 16 beneficiaries of PAPED are Ghana, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cote d‘Ivoire, Gambia, Guinea Bissau Liberia Mali Niger Nigeria Senegal Sierra Leone Togo and Mauritania.
Rear Admiral Jungen Ehle, Chairman of EU Military Committee Working Group, who was also present at the meeting, said the Council had adopted a strategy on the Gulf of Guinea to support the efforts of the region and its coastal states to address challenges in maritime insecurity and organized crime.
He explained that insecurity impedes economic growth thereby the need for measures to be taken to ensure the safety of trading activities in the region in order to compliment the economic prosperity of West Africa and the continent as a whole.
According to him, the EU’s comprehensive approach to West and Central Africa was based on the region’s geo-strategic importance; and its determination to support efforts to overcome poverty and attain stability and prosperity.
“Last year, it was reported that 10% of Nigerian oil was lost through criminal activities on the Gulf…and crimes like these need to be fought to ensure development in Africa” he said.
Rear Ehle noted that the strategy recognised the need to protect both the populations in the Gulf of Guinea region and European citizens from the threats that emanate from the region including piracy, terrorism, smuggling of migrants and trafficking of human beings, drugs and arms.
The Ambassador said, that the EU-Africa economic partnership agreement would be further discussed at the upcoming EU-Africa Summit scheduled to take place in Brussels, Belguim from the 2nd to the 3rd April, 2014 on the theme “Investing in People, Prosperity and Peace”; with 28 EU members and 55 African countries expected to participate in the event.
By Prince Asare, Diplomatic Call
