:00:08. > :00:17.TRANSLATION: Dear colleagues. Be seated.
:00:18. > :00:24.It is a great pleasure for me to receive today, the chair person of
:00:25. > :00:28.the African Union commission. Mr President. You are the first chair
:00:29. > :00:38.person of the African Union commission to at dress this plenary,
:00:39. > :00:43.Africa is a priority for the union. We share many values, we have much
:00:44. > :00:46.culture in common, we have the same security challenge, migration
:00:47. > :00:54.challenge, unemployment, climate change channels as well. Because of
:00:55. > :01:00.that we must strengthen our strategic partnership, and work
:01:01. > :01:04.together, as equals. Side by side, to find practical solutions, to the
:01:05. > :01:11.preoccupations and concerns of our citizens. Citizens. I salute the
:01:12. > :01:20.efforts of the African Union in its fight against terrorism. Our
:01:21. > :01:28.cooperation is essential in the Chad lakes area, in the Horn of Africa,
:01:29. > :01:35.and indeed, in Libya. We have a shared interest in managing
:01:36. > :01:41.migration flows, combatting human trafficking, preventing
:01:42. > :01:45.radicalisation. It is also indefensible to create job
:01:46. > :01:51.opportunities for young people, young African people in Africa. And
:01:52. > :01:54.we must therefore develop strong economic diplomacy s and invest more
:01:55. > :02:04.and better on top continent. I express my deep concern for the
:02:05. > :02:11.food crisis and famine, hunger, which is ravaging many regions of
:02:12. > :02:15.Africa. Tomorrow, during a visit to Strasbourg, I will be debating with
:02:16. > :02:20.the Secretary General of the United Nations on that very subject, the
:02:21. > :02:26.humanitarian crisis. I am convinced we must reinforce our ties to the
:02:27. > :02:36.African continent, particularly at institutional level, with our
:02:37. > :03:02.sister. Mr President, you have the floor.
:03:03. > :03:15.TRANSLATION: Mr President, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,
:03:16. > :03:22.I have the pleasure of taking this opportunity to address this
:03:23. > :03:31.prestigious assembly, which represents the European peoples in
:03:32. > :03:42.all their diversity. Since the first summit in Cairo, in 2000, it has
:03:43. > :03:46.been one major adventure, with many important milestones. I am convinced
:03:47. > :03:52.the next summit in November, currently under preparation, will
:03:53. > :04:03.represent an important new step in our March towards the future of our
:04:04. > :04:09.peoples. The EU Africa couple has a proud history. Through history, in
:04:10. > :04:17.the past, there have been areas of light and shade. However, in the
:04:18. > :04:27.modern world, it is vibrant and a dynamic relationship, and holds
:04:28. > :04:32.great promise for a blue horizon. Successive milestones have marked
:04:33. > :04:41.this partnership around the Mediterranean, with Egypt, with
:04:42. > :04:54.Greece, with Finland, Rome. For many centuries, these cultures have woven
:04:55. > :04:56.of a shared history. The period of colonisation lasted two centuries
:04:57. > :05:02.and brought face-to-face our cultures and civilisations. Which
:05:03. > :05:12.are so different in their spirituality and informing
:05:13. > :05:16.structures. With their humanism, they're irresistible thrust towards
:05:17. > :05:24.freedom. Colonisation of Africa by European powers was certainly a
:05:25. > :05:28.controversial page in our shared history. Yes, there was a period of
:05:29. > :05:37.domination, a period of exploitation of servitude, indeed slavery. The
:05:38. > :05:43.insult, the affront to human history, the traces of which are not
:05:44. > :05:49.going to simply disappear by magic. Famous poets have immortalised this
:05:50. > :05:54.affliction in thinkers and intellectuals, in Africa and Europe,
:05:55. > :05:57.they have given their interpretations and have tried to
:05:58. > :06:07.understand where this fits into our history. The project of
:06:08. > :06:14.colonisation, the end of that became the start of the new liberation
:06:15. > :06:20.paradigms. This helps us draw lessons so we can avoid any
:06:21. > :06:25.repetition or recurrence of that. However, I have not come back here
:06:26. > :06:38.to look back, to hark back and to put the stick in the wounds. But in
:06:39. > :06:43.a continental future we can think back and draw resources from this
:06:44. > :06:49.shared past. All I want to do at the introduction, in my introduction
:06:50. > :06:52.remarks, is to draw attention to the indelible scars which have been left
:06:53. > :06:58.by yesterday, now hard-wired into the collective memory of Africans
:06:59. > :07:09.everywhere. With all of that history behind us, with all the passions,
:07:10. > :07:13.there has, of course, been the best light and the worst shade. There is
:07:14. > :07:21.also history of enlightenment, of cultural and spiritual exchange, of
:07:22. > :07:27.trade, which has been the basis for emancipation and freedom now, down
:07:28. > :07:29.the centuries this has contributed to your culture, your civilisation,
:07:30. > :07:39.and our culture and our civilisation. Ladies and gentlemen,
:07:40. > :07:44.the International Horizon is now marked by alarmingly rapid change.
:07:45. > :07:51.New powers are emerging, and seek their place in a world which has
:07:52. > :07:54.become multipolar. New challenges are there. The only hope for a
:07:55. > :08:02.lasting solution resides in collective effort based on
:08:03. > :08:05.solidarity. In this process of restructuring of the geostrategic
:08:06. > :08:14.universe, which is very globalised, Europe and Africa seem, inevitably,
:08:15. > :08:17.to be looking for a strategic agreement, because they are a
:08:18. > :08:26.community of destiny, a shared future. Their history, in the past,
:08:27. > :08:38.the geographical proximity means that both sides depend on the other.
:08:39. > :08:50.They need to engage with each other. For us to reap the fruits, it must
:08:51. > :08:53.be based on solid principles. They must take the scale of this
:08:54. > :09:01.multidimensional thing, the visionary objective in a world which
:09:02. > :09:10.is expanding, and where horizons are widening. Mutual respect, equality,
:09:11. > :09:13.freedom, solidarity, the essential landmarks, if it is to be
:09:14. > :09:22.sustainable, lasting and mutually advantageous. Africa is to devote
:09:23. > :09:27.all of its intelligence to look forward to the forthcoming period.
:09:28. > :09:35.We are looking to create a united Europe which is prosperous and that
:09:36. > :09:42.piece. -- at peace. We need an agenda, and our agendas have an
:09:43. > :09:48.overlap, as we salute the tenth anniversary of the EU Africa
:09:49. > :09:54.strategy this year, the agenda for the forthcoming period maps out our
:09:55. > :10:02.path into the future, and is the basis for international cooperation,
:10:03. > :10:09.and for our strategic partnership. Africa is, and remains, the theatre
:10:10. > :10:14.of many bloody conflicts, the main ones being in the Horn of Africa, in
:10:15. > :10:20.the Chad basin in Central Africa, but the elements of this are now
:10:21. > :10:27.palpable and tangible. There is great wealth in the minds, in the
:10:28. > :10:34.resources, in the fishing stocks. Above all, it can draw on the
:10:35. > :10:43.vitality of its very young population, good governance, around
:10:44. > :10:48.a courageous vision for African union, the end of tariffs and
:10:49. > :10:51.customs barriers, our own agriculture system, renewable
:10:52. > :11:01.energy, technology and the service sector are all essential levers for
:11:02. > :11:05.the rebirth. We wish them well. Economic growth must improve, over
:11:06. > :11:16.recent times. That will underpin our ambition, as we fight against waste,
:11:17. > :11:21.immunity, against waste and the hijacking of public funds. From that
:11:22. > :11:26.point of view, the priority for us has to be on finding the right
:11:27. > :11:32.instruments, in the appropriate tool box of our union, and respect on the
:11:33. > :11:40.half of the member states for everything it contains. The forms of
:11:41. > :11:46.the African union, decided by the 20 summit, represents a real hope for
:11:47. > :11:54.our Renaissance. In a resolute way, it means that we are responsible for
:11:55. > :11:56.our own governance. It must also support the positive developments
:11:57. > :12:06.and trends that are there for all to see. The continent must now coolers
:12:07. > :12:11.-- pool resources and talents to prevent the tragedies it has had to
:12:12. > :12:17.face because of famine, drought and conflict, and violations of human
:12:18. > :12:26.rights. These crises and conflicts put the humanitarian elements stage
:12:27. > :12:32.centre, and looking forward to 2020 we are proceeding in a spirit of
:12:33. > :12:38.resolve and determination, tackling terrorism, jihadism and
:12:39. > :12:48.radicalisation is at the centre of our daily efforts. We are devoting
:12:49. > :12:53.all of our efforts to that. Both in terms of management and
:12:54. > :13:01.post-conflict reconstruction. We greatly appreciate the support we
:13:02. > :13:07.have received from the European Union in this fight, particularly
:13:08. > :13:15.with the peace facility. Ladies and gentlemen, all of the studies in
:13:16. > :13:19.recent times demonstrate Africa is part of the world that has suffered
:13:20. > :13:24.most from the degradation of natural environment and from climate change.
:13:25. > :13:30.The devastating effect on flora and fauna reduce and sometimes
:13:31. > :13:37.annihilate in an irreversible way, the possibility for continued life
:13:38. > :13:44.in great tracts of the continent. There is a paradox in this. On the
:13:45. > :13:47.one hand, Africa is the least polluting continent, and the one
:13:48. > :13:55.place that suffers most from climate change. Is it superfluous to recall
:13:56. > :13:58.that Africa does not get the full benefit from the efforts and
:13:59. > :14:06.sacrifices which were made to come to terms with the threat which is
:14:07. > :14:10.posed to humanity by climate change? This is an essential domain in a
:14:11. > :14:18.partnership which must be better understood, better handled and given
:14:19. > :14:26.a higher priority. Given that, we must also see the need to open up
:14:27. > :14:30.whole areas in the private sector, and the international sector. Let's
:14:31. > :14:35.welcome the fact that in recent years we have seen a 50% increase in
:14:36. > :14:41.our trade, taking the whole degree of European investment to around 200
:14:42. > :14:47.billion euros per annum. The business is the prime creator of
:14:48. > :14:56.wealth and economic prosperity. The key role in the economic and social
:14:57. > :15:00.development will take pride of place in our policies and strategic
:15:01. > :15:03.partnerships. We are fully aware of the imperatives of the new economic
:15:04. > :15:10.government, and this encourages others to see ourselves in the
:15:11. > :15:16.perspective of a confidential zone of free trade. This makes us
:15:17. > :15:22.particularly attentive and sensitive to the idea of further investment,
:15:23. > :15:29.and to proceed boldly with an African national plan, which was
:15:30. > :15:33.strongly defended by the presidency of the G20. I wanted to express our
:15:34. > :15:37.firm support for that, and let that guide our steps into the future.
:15:38. > :15:43.Young Africans represent 50% of the entire population. Women represent
:15:44. > :15:48.more than half of the population of Africa as well. Youth and the gender
:15:49. > :15:55.dimension are central to our strategic vision. These are
:15:56. > :16:00.preoccupations that inform all of the programmes we engage on
:16:01. > :16:05.ourselves and with our partners. The question of emigration, great
:16:06. > :16:10.swathes of our young population, poses a double danger. Those that go
:16:11. > :16:18.blindly into the way of shipwreck, those that, without any preparation,
:16:19. > :16:25.find themselves submerged by the waves, we need to find a solution to
:16:26. > :16:32.that. The only way is to develop Africa and to reinvent a better
:16:33. > :16:36.future for our young people on the continent. Our partnership has much
:16:37. > :16:43.potential which is unexplored. And yet we have a community of interest
:16:44. > :16:48.and advantage, the die aspera, when considered as the sixth region of
:16:49. > :16:54.Africa, after the North, south, east, west and the centre, has a
:16:55. > :17:03.sixth dimension, it represents an important place in our agenda. That
:17:04. > :17:08.is what these intellectual and financial resources bring with it.
:17:09. > :17:13.Ladies and gentlemen, partnership is essential. We have much in common.
:17:14. > :17:19.This is the nub of the message that you have done me the honour of
:17:20. > :17:28.receiving. I think it would be incomplete if I did not talk openly,
:17:29. > :17:31.and without fear or favour, and in so doing raise the fundamental issue
:17:32. > :17:37.about the link between universalism in our partnership and relativism.
:17:38. > :17:42.Many questions test, once they have been put on the table, to all of the
:17:43. > :17:48.nuances and sometimes divergences between Europe and Africa. And it is
:17:49. > :17:53.not in my own temperament, nor in the political philosophy, those of
:17:54. > :18:02.the heads of state and government in Africa, to preach the clash of
:18:03. > :18:09.civilisations and religions. My Credo is search for mutual
:18:10. > :18:10.understanding, solidarity between civilisations, cultures and
:18:11. > :18:37.religions. To commune with the others. In
:18:38. > :18:42.building bridges, we are not preaching uniformity or differences,
:18:43. > :18:52.our diversity is the driving force behind movement of life itself and
:18:53. > :18:58.dynamism. Is it not unfair, and ill lieu sieve to lose out on this if
:18:59. > :19:07.kund diversity because of diplomatic abuses? We have a whole series of
:19:08. > :19:12.question, international justice and international law, relationship
:19:13. > :19:17.between justice, peace and reconciliation, clearly, the battle
:19:18. > :19:24.cry is often used African solutions to problems but this must not be a
:19:25. > :19:29.pretext to legitimate us losing our way in the political sphere. The
:19:30. > :19:34.matters of, which have a burning matters of, which have a burning
:19:35. > :19:42.topicalty, as we look round, I am glad to see the remarkable attention
:19:43. > :19:48.which is paid to civil society in Africa, and their mobilisation
:19:49. > :19:52.across the whole area, the whole extent of our cooperation, perhaps
:19:53. > :19:56.honourable members you feel that this is overing the pudding and
:19:57. > :20:01.expecting too much of our partnership, but let us not forget
:20:02. > :20:07.the famous statement by Jules Verne, nothing can be done which is great
:20:08. > :20:10.which is not hugely ambitious and hopeful, ladies and gentlemen, can I
:20:11. > :20:19.invite you to recognise that in Africa, you have an open heart, and
:20:20. > :20:24.an open mind, and we have extended our hand which is strong, and
:20:25. > :20:28.hard-working and assiduous, thank you very much for allowing me to add
:20:29. > :20:31.dress this house and thank you for your attention. Thank you very much.
:20:32. > :21:20.-- address. TRANSLATION: Thank you very much
:21:21. > :21:25.Your Excellency s as you can see, we are already working on building
:21:26. > :21:34.bridges between the European Union, and African Union, you saw the MEPs
:21:35. > :21:39.give you a standing ovation. We need to be pragmatic, and tangible in our
:21:40. > :21:42.work, together with the representative for foreign affair, I
:21:43. > :21:47.believe we can do good work together, the European Parliament is
:21:48. > :21:53.very much committed to making progress here, we need economic,
:21:54. > :21:59.political bridges to be built, and also transport bridges. I have
:22:00. > :22:03.always been in favour of interconnecting the European, trans
:22:04. > :22:11.European network with trans African networks. We need to work together.
:22:12. > :22:22.I am an optimist. But we also need to be clear. We can only succeed in
:22:23. > :22:26.fighting terrorism, we can only deal with the issues linked to migration
:22:27. > :22:31.if Europe and Africa work together, so we need to strengthen our ties, I
:22:32. > :22:37.have told my friends in Europe the same. We should look to Africa, not
:22:38. > :22:43.with European glasses but with African glasses. That is where the
:22:44. > :22:47.ties of friendship lie between our two continents and you are always
:22:48. > :22:50.very welcome in the European Parliament. Thank you very much.
:22:51. > :23:19.APPLAUSE Welcome to HARDtalk from Dublin. I
:23:20. > :23:23.am Steven sack cur, Ireland has bounced back from the financial
:23:24. > :23:27.crisis of 2008, but now it is become swept by a new wave of apprehension,
:23:28. > :23:34.and this time it is all about Brexit. Because when Britain leaves
:23:35. > :23:38.the European Union, Ireland will suffer significant collateral
:23:39. > :23:43.damage, in terms of job, trade and the status of its borders. My guest
:23:44. > :23:48.is Ireland's trade and Foreign Ministerer Charles Flanagan. Will
:23:49. > :23:50.Brexit have catastrophic consequences?