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EU-POLITICS-JUNCKER-AFRICA
EU’s Juncker wants ‘new alliance’ with Africa
STRASBOURG, France, Sept 12, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – European Commission head
Jean Claude Juncker on Wednesday called for a “new alliance” with Africa that
would create millions of jobs and include a free trade deal.
His call came as European countries are struggling to find a united
solution to slow the flow of African migrants crossing the Mediterranean,
mainly to Spain and Italy, in search of a better life.
“We should move the many trade agreements between Africa and the European
Union towards a continent-to-continent free trade agreement,” Juncker told
the European Parliament during his annual State of the Union speech.
A new economic partnership between the two continents “would create up to
10 million jobs in Africa in the next five years alone,” he said.
He said that the EU’s relations with Africa must no longer be seen “from
the sole perspective of development aid”.
“Africa does not need charity, it needs a balanced partnership and Europe
needs this partnership just as much,” he said to MEPs.
The message was also intended for African capitals where European
governments are eager for tighter cooperation in encouraging migrants to stay
at home.
BSS/AFP/MR/ 1442 hrs