European Union-Africa, Youth Summit

Youth ask for the 'Eurafrican' Erasmus

The Youth Summit EU-Africa came to the end after three days of work - from 5th to 7th December. About 250 delegates of the two continents agreed on a final declaration that has been delivered to the Heads of State Africa-European Union summit at the opening day


By MARCO RICIPUTI
from Ravenna, ITALY


The closing day was pleased by the participation of top level guests like the President of the European Commission Barroso, the president of the European Council José Sócrates, the Commissioner of the African Union for human resources, science and technology Nagaia Essayed as well young leaders as Bettina Schwarzmayr, European representative of the steering committee, and Diogo Pinto, Secretary General of the European Youth Forum.

Visa regime

The participants discussed several topics such as the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, good governance, peace, globalization, climate change. But the big issue remains the Visa system. Many participants were not able to reach the old continent because of the impossibility to get all the documents they need. 'The summit is the sad and horrible proof of the Visa regime', said Christoffer Grondstad, member of the European Youth Forum.

On the Visa System President of the European Commission Barroso said that was one of the main points of the EU-Africa Heads of State summit even if no big change is expected. As Stefano Manservisi - Director General for Development of the EC - stated, 'we can't reform the Visa system as an act of good will, we have to prove to our people that a different system work well'.

'Give the mic back!'

The Africans participants hadn't miss the opportunity to claim louder at the plenary sessions. The moderator wasn't able to give the floor to many participants and a Nigerian guy blame him shouting 'the only thing you can do is give the mic back!', as immediately happen.

'The African union is only 5 years old, be patience' replied commissioner Essayed, one of the e main target of the young people. 'We need more money for the e science and technology.' 'No more Visa system'. 'What has ever done for us the African Union? Where are the youth programs?'. Those were some of the many questions at the plenary session. Commissioner Essayed said that after the implementation of the African Youth Charter things will go better.

'You always refer to the African civil society, but it doesn't exist', claims Marie Tamaifo from Cameroon, 'we don't even have free of speech in many countries'. A bitter situation stressed also by others participants. 'We can't build democratic regime in Africa, is up to you', declared otherwise high EU officers Manservisi.

'Do network and make things happen'

President Barroso invited the young people to keep the contact alive also after the youth summit. 'In the XXI centuries', he said, 'individuals more than politicians and politics, can change the things.' He also declared that in the next years, the mobility student programme Erasmus Mundi, will give more chances to the young people of Africa. Barroso warmly welcomed the Africans delegates. 'We, Portuguese, have a past marked by colonialism and we want to forge our relationship on reciprocal partnership', he said.

To keep the people connected will be created a permanent Africa/European union youth forum. The Final declaration stress also the high rate of the lack of job for the young people. "We note with concern that youth represent close to half of the world's unemployed people" is stated in the document. Finally, the great hope of the participants is a common space of student mobility with no barriers, a sort o f 'Eurafrican' Erasmus programme. On a more integrated EU/Africa youth policies ,approach, José Sócrates, President of the European Union Council, recall the Joint Youth Strategy and, most of all, the mechanism to control the implementation of the Strategy. 'The summit means recover political dialogue after 7 of silence' he said, underline that can be considered a turning points in the relationship of the two continents.


(Published: 10.01.2008.)

Send your comments