H.E. HON BETHEL AMADI SEEKS TO RESET EUROPE & AFRICA RELATIONS WITH A RENEWED FOCUS ON RISING YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT

H.E. HON BETHEL AMADI SEEKS TO RESET EUROPE & AFRICA RELATIONS WITH A RENEWED FOCUS ON RISING YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT

The President of the Pan African Parliament, His Excellency Hon. Bethel Amadi has sought to reset the relationship of Europe and Africa with a renewed focus on the rising tide of Youth Unemployment in Africa and its attendant consequences. Hon. Bethel Amadi Spoke during the just concluded Parliamentary Summit between the European Parliament and the Pan African Parliament held in Brussels Belgium on 31^st March, 2014,  in advance of the Heads of State Summit between Europe and Africa that occurred on 2-3 April 2014 under the theme of “investing in People, Prosperity and Peace” and was intended to mark a further significant step in developing Europe and Africa’s partnership in the three areas covered by the theme.

The Summit was also designed to give parliamentary dimension to the Joint Africa Europe Strategy (JAES) adopted in Lisbon Portugal in November 2007 as a strategic partnership that embodies the shared vision of Europe and Africa and the commitment of both continents to work together on an equal, strategic, and long-term level and was informed by Africa and Europe’s shared historical interconnectedness.

The relations between the Pan African Parliament and the European Parliament represent an important element of the relations between Africa and Europe. The President of the European Parliament H.E. Hon Martin Schulz in receiving H.E. Hon Amadi at the Precincts of the European Parliament expressed hope that the EU-Africa Summit will offer a useful opportunity to have top level discussions between African and European leaders on crucial issues related to peace and development on the African continent, challenges in human development and the post 2015 agenda.

H.E. Hon Amadi noted that in spite of numerous security challenges, Africa has been showing an impressive economic performance over recent years and that a renewed effort should be made to leverage on the economic prospects and investment opportunities in Africa for a sustainable and inclusive growth through regional integration.

In his remark, H.E. Hon Amadi reminded African Parliamentarians and their European counterpart that their solemn constitutional responsibility as Parliamentarians and the true representatives of the people is to articulate the various institutional mechanisms that will foster human capital development and highlight methods of creating additional incentives for investment as a catalyst for economic growth and poverty reduction especially as it relates to women and youth. In fulfilling this mandate, Hon Amadi stated that the Parliamentarians will not only be promoting growth in their continents but will be laying the legal framework for people centred development as a pre- condition for sustainable peace and security in our continents.

Hon Amadi stated that the persistent security challenges in Africa as more recently manifested in Central African Republic and South Sudan have tested the resolve, resilience and tenacity of Africa’s political institutions in bridging the gap for continental security and peace. In all these continental challenges, Hon Amadi stated that EU partners have emerged as a successful continental partner for peace, security and stability especially through the African Peace Facility (APF).

Further in his remark, H.E Hon Amadi asserted that one emerging threat to peace and security in the African continent is youth unemployment which is three times the continents overall average. Three-fifth of sub-Saharan Africa’s unemployed population are under the age of 25 with 72% of its population living on less than $2 a day. The high level of unemployment has forced our youth to leave the shores of Africa in search of “greener pastures”. They are often exposed to grave dangers in trying to cross the Sahara or seas into Europe as was the case of the most recent tragic event of Lampedusa in October 3^rd 2013 when several Africans lost their lives trying to reach Europe. Even in cases where they survive, they end up in poor living conditions, often exposed to prostitution, drug racketeers and all manner of dehumanization. Hon Amadi reaffirmed that Africa’s youth are a vibrant and untapped sector of our economy and urged his colleagues to take steps to unleash their productive potential and enhance their capacity.

Hon Amadi also challenged his colleagues to redouble efforts at deepening regional market integration as a benchmark for sustainable economic development. He stated that the integration process of our continent can only begin through economic integration and by creating legal and legislative frameworks for the free movement of people, labour, goods and services across our continent. He indicated that these ideals are already encapsulated in the AU decision on boosting Intra Africa Trade. This document embraces the imperative of our shared values of establishing within the continent a formidable mechanism for internal trade, which will not only serve as bedrock for Africa’s economic resilience against international market volatilities but ensures the consolidation of recent impressive economic gains in Africa. Hon Amadi stated that as Parliamentarians we should establish the legislative framework to counter some of the factors that contribute to Africa’s marginalization and constraints to Intra-Africa Trade such as high tariffs, absence of cross-border financial instruments, complex customs arrangements and limited regional harmonization of policies, regulations, and procedures. In his view, Africa remains the most fragmented continent in the world with 54 countries with numerous border crossings and according to a report by the world trade organization, Intra Africa trade remains very low and as at last year stood at 10%. Hon Amadi concluded that the low level of intra-African Trade is a missed growth and development opportunity and an enhanced Intra African Trade will not only provide employment opportunities for our teeming population of Africa’s unemployed youths but will serve as a catalyst for Africa’s economic independence and self-sustainability.

The Parliamentary Summit ended with a firm resolution by the members of the European Parliament headed by H.E. Martin Schulz and the Pan African Parliament headed by H.E. Hon Bethel Nnaemeka Amadi to present to the Heads of State 4^th Africa-Europe Summit a declaration to create jobs through sustainable and inclusive growth, develop frameworks for enhancing EU support for African capacities to manage peace and security on the continent as a precursor for development and growth and identify specific mechanisms to stimulate youth employment across Africa.