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EU cohesion success stories are useful to tackle Africa’s development challenges

2019. 04. 03.

Press release of MEP Lívia Járóka

The conference on “Africa-Europe: creating value and building a future together” was held today in Brussels with a closing keynote speech by EP Vice-President Lívia Járóka. In her speech she asked for a deepening in the EU-Africa relations through a strategic and pragmatic approach. “For this to materialized we need to develop synergies and parallel initiatives in multiple levels. Economic, civil society and political institutions need to deepen their interactions between EU and Africa” – stressed the Fidesz MEP.

MEP Lívia Járóka noted that the experience and capabilities gained in Europe during the implementation of the cohesion programmes could be used as benchmark for the needs of Africa’s development: “There are many similarities between policies used to empower the poorer regions in Europe with the African development challenges. Eastern European countries and in particular Hungary have successful policies and projects in place to tackle poverty; while the key targets of policies and strategies remain similar: Housing, health, employment, education, sustainability and digitalization”.

The EPP Group MEP stressed out that EU should use the available funds to invest in Africa prioritizing early childhood development, vocational training, while supporting sustainable industrial and agricultural development and infrastructure. This will create the adequate environment for the 30 million young people entering the African job market every year to stay and work for the development of their motherlands.

Background: The event brought together representatives of African and European institutional and economic circles such as Commission and Parliament officials, representatives of African governments, Permanent Representations of Member States, public and private investors, African or Africa-based business leaders including Matata Ponyo Mapon, former Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo.