Assita Kanko on the EU-Africa summit: “The EU must stop being paternalistic.”

The European Parliament debates EU-Africa relations on Tuesday, and the EU-Africa summit takes place in Brussels on 17 and 18 February. Together with a few group members, MEP Assita Kanko submitted an amendment that calls on the European Commission to reset its Africa policy. “We must move away from the outdated paternalism and really start working together with Africa.”

“What Europe is doing now is clearly not working. On the contrary, even. The leaders there must take responsibility themselves. Europe must stop being paternalistic and start cooperating again, conduct trade, exchange best practices and think about a serious defence policy,” Assita Kanko says. “The aid illusion is some 60 years old. When will we have the courage to move from the 1960s to the 21st century and see the potential of symbiosis with Africa?”

Nanny diplomacy

“We keep African countries dependent and inferior by only offering development aid. This well-intentioned aid is often misused and leads to increased corruption,” says Assita Kanko. “We must move away from ‘nanny diplomacy’ and strive for healthy cooperation based on equal partnership rather than dependency. Stimulate growth, trade and entrepreneurship.”

Confused Commission

During the debate on EU-Africa relations in Strasbourg on Tuesday, Assita Kanko will speak for her party. Partly on her initiative, the coup d’état and the crisis in Burkina Faso will be on Thursday’s plenary agenda. “Burkina Faso is my homeland, but the country is now unrecognisable. Islamism and autocrats are taking over the region. That also threatens Europe. Where is the geopolitical Commission? All I see is a confused Commission buying time while forcing a smile. I am determined to fight this toxic tradition. For real progress,” Assita Kanko concludes.