Moussa Mahamat European Parliament

TRANSLATION: Dear colleagues. Be seated.

It is a great pleasure for me to receive today, the chair person of

the African Union commission. Mr President. You are the first chair

person of the African Union commission to at dress this plenary,

Africa is a priority for the union. We share many values, we have much

culture in common, we have the same security challenge, migration

challenge, unemployment, climate change channels as well. Because of

that we must strengthen our strategic partnership, and work

together, as equals. Side by side, to find practical solutions, to the

preoccupations and concerns of our citizens. Citizens. I salute the

efforts of the African Union in its fight against terrorism. Our

cooperation is essential in the Chad lakes area, in the Horn of Africa,

and indeed, in Libya. We have a shared interest in managing

migration flows, combatting human trafficking, preventing

radicalisation. It is also indefensible to create job

opportunities for young people, young African people in Africa. And

we must therefore develop strong economic diplomacy s and invest more

and better on top continent. I express my deep concern for the

food crisis and famine, hunger, which is ravaging many regions of

Africa. Tomorrow, during a visit to Strasbourg, I will be debating with

the Secretary General of the United Nations on that very subject, the

humanitarian crisis. I am convinced we must reinforce our ties to the

African continent, particularly at institutional level, with our

sister. Mr President, you have the floor.

TRANSLATION: Mr President, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,

I have the pleasure of taking this opportunity to address this

prestigious assembly, which represents the European peoples in

all their diversity. Since the first summit in Cairo, in 2000, it has

been one major adventure, with many important milestones. I am convinced

the next summit in November, currently under preparation, will

represent an important new step in our March towards the future of our

peoples. The EU Africa couple has a proud history. Through history, in

the past, there have been areas of light and shade. However, in the

modern world, it is vibrant and a dynamic relationship, and holds

great promise for a blue horizon. Successive milestones have marked

this partnership around the Mediterranean, with Egypt, with

Greece, with Finland, Rome. For many centuries, these cultures have woven

of a shared history. The period of colonisation lasted two centuries

and brought face-to-face our cultures and civilisations. Which

are so different in their spirituality and informing

structures. With their humanism, they're irresistible thrust towards

freedom. Colonisation of Africa by European powers was certainly a

controversial page in our shared history. Yes, there was a period of

domination, a period of exploitation of servitude, indeed slavery. The

insult, the affront to human history, the traces of which are not

going to simply disappear by magic. Famous poets have immortalised this

affliction in thinkers and intellectuals, in Africa and Europe,

they have given their interpretations and have tried to

understand where this fits into our history. The project of

colonisation, the end of that became the start of the new liberation

paradigms. This helps us draw lessons so we can avoid any

repetition or recurrence of that. However, I have not come back here

to look back, to hark back and to put the stick in the wounds. But in

a continental future we can think back and draw resources from this

shared past. All I want to do at the introduction, in my introduction

remarks, is to draw attention to the indelible scars which have been left

by yesterday, now hard-wired into the collective memory of Africans

everywhere. With all of that history behind us, with all the passions,

there has, of course, been the best light and the worst shade. There is

also history of enlightenment, of cultural and spiritual exchange, of

trade, which has been the basis for emancipation and freedom now, down

the centuries this has contributed to your culture, your civilisation,

and our culture and our civilisation. Ladies and gentlemen,

the International Horizon is now marked by alarmingly rapid change.

New powers are emerging, and seek their place in a world which has

become multipolar. New challenges are there. The only hope for a

lasting solution resides in collective effort based on

solidarity. In this process of restructuring of the geostrategic

universe, which is very globalised, Europe and Africa seem, inevitably,

to be looking for a strategic agreement, because they are a

community of destiny, a shared future. Their history, in the past,

the geographical proximity means that both sides depend on the other.

They need to engage with each other. For us to reap the fruits, it must

be based on solid principles. They must take the scale of this

multidimensional thing, the visionary objective in a world which

is expanding, and where horizons are widening. Mutual respect, equality,

freedom, solidarity, the essential landmarks, if it is to be

sustainable, lasting and mutually advantageous. Africa is to devote

all of its intelligence to look forward to the forthcoming period.

We are looking to create a united Europe which is prosperous and that

piece. -- at peace. We need an agenda, and our agendas have an

overlap, as we salute the tenth anniversary of the EU Africa

strategy this year, the agenda for the forthcoming period maps out our

path into the future, and is the basis for international cooperation,

and for our strategic partnership. Africa is, and remains, the theatre

of many bloody conflicts, the main ones being in the Horn of Africa, in

the Chad basin in Central Africa, but the elements of this are now

palpable and tangible. There is great wealth in the minds, in the

resources, in the fishing stocks. Above all, it can draw on the

vitality of its very young population, good governance, around

a courageous vision for African union, the end of tariffs and

customs barriers, our own agriculture system, renewable

energy, technology and the service sector are all essential levers for

the rebirth. We wish them well. Economic growth must improve, over

recent times. That will underpin our ambition, as we fight against waste,

immunity, against waste and the hijacking of public funds. From that

point of view, the priority for us has to be on finding the right

instruments, in the appropriate tool box of our union, and respect on the

half of the member states for everything it contains. The forms of

the African union, decided by the 20 summit, represents a real hope for

our Renaissance. In a resolute way, it means that we are responsible for

our own governance. It must also support the positive developments

and trends that are there for all to see. The continent must now coolers

-- pool resources and talents to prevent the tragedies it has had to

face because of famine, drought and conflict, and violations of human

rights. These crises and conflicts put the humanitarian elements stage

centre, and looking forward to 2020 we are proceeding in a spirit of

resolve and determination, tackling terrorism, jihadism and

radicalisation is at the centre of our daily efforts. We are devoting

all of our efforts to that. Both in terms of management and

post-conflict reconstruction. We greatly appreciate the support we

have received from the European Union in this fight, particularly

with the peace facility. Ladies and gentlemen, all of the studies in

recent times demonstrate Africa is part of the world that has suffered

most from the degradation of natural environment and from climate change.

The devastating effect on flora and fauna reduce and sometimes

annihilate in an irreversible way, the possibility for continued life

in great tracts of the continent. There is a paradox in this. On the

one hand, Africa is the least polluting continent, and the one

place that suffers most from climate change. Is it superfluous to recall

that Africa does not get the full benefit from the efforts and

sacrifices which were made to come to terms with the threat which is

posed to humanity by climate change? This is an essential domain in a

partnership which must be better understood, better handled and given

a higher priority. Given that, we must also see the need to open up

whole areas in the private sector, and the international sector. Let's

welcome the fact that in recent years we have seen a 50% increase in

our trade, taking the whole degree of European investment to around 200

billion euros per annum. The business is the prime creator of

wealth and economic prosperity. The key role in the economic and social

development will take pride of place in our policies and strategic

partnerships. We are fully aware of the imperatives of the new economic

government, and this encourages others to see ourselves in the

perspective of a confidential zone of free trade. This makes us

particularly attentive and sensitive to the idea of further investment,

and to proceed boldly with an African national plan, which was

strongly defended by the presidency of the G20. I wanted to express our

firm support for that, and let that guide our steps into the future.

Young Africans represent 50% of the entire population. Women represent

more than half of the population of Africa as well. Youth and the gender

dimension are central to our strategic vision. These are

preoccupations that inform all of the programmes we engage on

ourselves and with our partners. The question of emigration, great

swathes of our young population, poses a double danger. Those that go

blindly into the way of shipwreck, those that, without any preparation,

find themselves submerged by the waves, we need to find a solution to

that. The only way is to develop Africa and to reinvent a better

future for our young people on the continent. Our partnership has much

potential which is unexplored. And yet we have a community of interest

and advantage, the die aspera, when considered as the sixth region of

Africa, after the North, south, east, west and the centre, has a

sixth dimension, it represents an important place in our agenda. That

is what these intellectual and financial resources bring with it.

Ladies and gentlemen, partnership is essential. We have much in common.

This is the nub of the message that you have done me the honour of

receiving. I think it would be incomplete if I did not talk openly,

and without fear or favour, and in so doing raise the fundamental issue

about the link between universalism in our partnership and relativism.

Many questions test, once they have been put on the table, to all of the

nuances and sometimes divergences between Europe and Africa. And it is

not in my own temperament, nor in the political philosophy, those of

the heads of state and government in Africa, to preach the clash of

civilisations and religions. My Credo is search for mutual

understanding, solidarity between civilisations, cultures and

religions. To commune with the others. In

building bridges, we are not preaching uniformity or differences,

our diversity is the driving force behind movement of life itself and

dynamism. Is it not unfair, and ill lieu sieve to lose out on this if

kund diversity because of diplomatic abuses? We have a whole series of

question, international justice and international law, relationship

between justice, peace and reconciliation, clearly, the battle

cry is often used African solutions to problems but this must not be a

pretext to legitimate us losing our way in the political sphere. The

matters of, which have a burning matters of, which have a burning

topicalty, as we look round, I am glad to see the remarkable attention

which is paid to civil society in Africa, and their mobilisation

across the whole area, the whole extent of our cooperation, perhaps

honourable members you feel that this is overing the pudding and

expecting too much of our partnership, but let us not forget

the famous statement by Jules Verne, nothing can be done which is great

which is not hugely ambitious and hopeful, ladies and gentlemen, can I

invite you to recognise that in Africa, you have an open heart, and

an open mind, and we have extended our hand which is strong, and

hard-working and assiduous, thank you very much for allowing me to add

dress this house and thank you for your attention. Thank you very much.

-- address. TRANSLATION: Thank you very much

Your Excellency s as you can see, we are already working on building

bridges between the European Union, and African Union, you saw the MEPs

give you a standing ovation. We need to be pragmatic, and tangible in our

work, together with the representative for foreign affair, I

believe we can do good work together, the European Parliament is

very much committed to making progress here, we need economic,

political bridges to be built, and also transport bridges. I have

always been in favour of interconnecting the European, trans

European network with trans African networks. We need to work together.

I am an optimist. But we also need to be clear. We can only succeed in

fighting terrorism, we can only deal with the issues linked to migration

if Europe and Africa work together, so we need to strengthen our ties, I

have told my friends in Europe the same. We should look to Africa, not

with European glasses but with African glasses. That is where the

ties of friendship lie between our two continents and you are always

very welcome in the European Parliament. Thank you very much.

APPLAUSE Welcome to HARDtalk from Dublin. I

am Steven sack cur, Ireland has bounced back from the financial

crisis of 2008, but now it is become swept by a new wave of apprehension,

and this time it is all about Brexit. Because when Britain leaves

the European Union, Ireland will suffer significant collateral

damage, in terms of job, trade and the status of its borders. My guest

is Ireland's trade and Foreign Ministerer Charles Flanagan. Will

Brexit have catastrophic consequences?