EU-Africa Summit:Europe and Africa still have plenty of problems with each other, writes Mary Fitzgeraldin Lisbon
European and African leaders agreed to commit to a new partnership of equals yesterday as they concluded a landmark summit blighted by disputes over trade, colonial legacy and the presence of Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe.
After two days of what hosts Portugal had promised would be a no-holds barred debate, heads of state and government from almost 70 countries agreed to take the intercontinental relationship to "a new, strategic level" based on "shared vision" and co-operation on issues including investment, development and peacekeeping.
But the grandiose rhetoric of the closing statements could not hide the divisions that emerged during the gathering, the first summit between Europe and Africa since 2000. Disagreements over issues such as human rights, immigration and, above all, trade ensured a strained atmosphere.
Campaigners had criticised summit organizers for allowing human rights issues take a backseat to trade during the weekend talks, highlighting the fact no specific sessions on Darfur and Zimbabwe were tabled for discussion.
European leaders were keen to secure agreement on how to bolster economic ties between the two continents. Europe, which remains Africa's largest trading partner, is wary of growing Chinese investment throughout the region.
The EU wants to replace existing preferential trade accords with what are known as economic partnership agreements (EPAs) before a World Trade Organisation deadline at the end of the year. These require that African countries open their markets to European products if they are to retain tariff-free access to the EU for their own exports.
Several African countries argue the EU is forcing them into unfair deals as a result - an accusation rejected by European officials. Anti-poverty campaigners say the trade pacts could damage fragile African economies.
"It's clear that Africa rejects the EPAs," said Senegalese president Abdoulaye Wade. "I agree with this spirit of creating a new relationship but we have to define what that relationship is." President Wade went on to warn that Europe is "close to losing the battle of competition in Africa".
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, referring to a notice placed in The Irish Times at the weekend in which several development organisations urged the Government to use its influence to ensure fair trade deals for Africa, said the EU approach must be "one of goodwill, flexibility, understanding".
"We do not want any country to be worse off as they go into 2008," he told reporters at the summit. "Poor countries cannot be forced into unfair deals." Meanwhile, German chancellor Angela Merkel hinted that Europe may soften its stance when EU leaders meet in Brussels on Friday.
"We have agreed to take another look whether we can make our negotiating position more flexible . . . We will consider whether we can add something more through a more flexible negotiating position, but the African side must do so too," she said.
The presence of Robert Mugabe also served to illustrate the faultlines between African and European leaders. British prime minister Gordon Brown boycotted the summit to protest Mugabe's attendance, while African leaders had threatened to stay away if the Zimbabwean leader - who is subject to an EU travel ban - was not invited.
German chancellor Angela Merkel, one of several European leaders to criticise Zimbabwe's human rights record, riled some African delegates on Saturday when she challenged them to confront abuses there, arguing that it is "damaging the image of the new Africa". A number of African attendees said the issue should not have been broached.
"Zimbabwe was not part of the agreed agenda of the summit," the Southern African Development Community's secretary general Tomaz Salomao said.
"Our position is that we are dealing with the issue . . . Zimbabwe is our problem, we are dealing with it." In a defiant speech delivered on the final day of the summit, Mr Mugabe accused European countries of "arrogance".
"On human rights and good governance, Africa sets its own agenda, of its own free will," he said. "Those who talk of equality have sought to impose their own will on Africa and made trumped-up charges on Zimbabwe . . . We know our responsibilities, we don't need to be told about peace and security."
EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana told the gathering that Europe is concerned about the "degradation of the economic, humanitarian and political situation" in Zimbabwe.
African leaders referred to the negative impact of Europe's colonisation of the continent. Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi raised the issue during a closed discussion on illegal immigration. "The concept of colonialism was a negative experience. The backlash is Europe's difficulty now, which is immigration," he reportedly said.
"Our natural resources were robbed. Underdevelopment was imposed on Africa. "Either you give us back our resources or you invite us in your countries."