President Hosni Mubarak will participate in the EU-Africa Summit due to be held in Lisbon today. Most observers see that the European moving towards Africa is a logic action with justifications can be summarized as follows: completing the cycle of cooperation between Europe on one hand and both Asia, America and Africa on the other.

Europe realized the importance of moving towards Africa in light of the world increasing interest in supporting relations with Africa especially the interest of major economic powers such as Japan, China and United States of America to hold forums with Africa. Europe aims at informing Africa that the age of unilateral aid, grants and preferential advantages has gone irreversibly and that the current system depends on partnership for the good and benefit of two parties.

The European move towards Africa is the result of previous European moves in Africa and comes within the framework of European-American struggle for the sake of African markets. The US held many forums with Africa in 2000 and talked about the cancellation of debts owed by African countries to it in order to attract Africa away from Europe.

Europe focuses on the importance of Lisbon Summit according to the offered goals including four main axes: continuing the EU-African political dialogue, confirming the means allowing the improvement of policies and programs related to development, supporting the private sector and discussing opportunities of investment in Africa.

The ministerial preparatory meeting held in Sharm el-Sheikh last Wednesday issued a final communiqué which tackled the development of dialogue between Africa and European Union, importance of supporting relation of strategic participation between the two parties, providing means of supporting the implementation of plans of action as well as supporting strategies of objective participation in the fields of joint concern. Such recommendations will be submitted to the Lisbon Summit today.

By: Eman Anwar
Akhbar Al Youm
8/12/2007