Chapter 3:3 - Building a True Partnership: Foundations for a Shared Future

As Europe’s closest neighbor, Africa shares a rich history with Europe. While the geography of North Africa has long been familiar to Europeans, thanks to the interwoven civilizations of ancient Greece and Rome that extended into this region, the relationship with sub-Saharan Africa only dates back to the fifteenth century. Portuguese explorers were the first to travel to the "unknown Africa" (as it was then named on maps), trading items such as cloth and metalware with West African countries. In return, they received spices like pepper and raw materials, including ivory and gold. However, what seemed like a mutually beneficial trade was marred by the horrific trade in human lives and subsequent colonization, casting a long shadow over contemporary interactions.

Given this historical context, Europeans must demonstrate a true commitment to a partnership founded on equality and mutual benefit when discussing closer cooperation with Africa. Fortunately, we today share common interests around — peace, security, democracy, prosperity, solidarity, and human dignity. We ultimately share the same dreams about the future.

So what should this strengthened partnership focus on? Here are three key pillars I would like to advocate for:

1. Education: Education should be a critical pillar in this partnership. Africa and Europe must reimagine the education sector to be agile in responding to 21st-century global demands. Building a strong educational foundation is essential for sustainable development. In 2017, Richard Riley, the former U.S. Secretary of Education, famously said, "We are currently preparing students for jobs that don’t yet exist … using technologies that haven’t been invented … to solve problems we don’t even know are problems yet." This statement underscores the rapid pace of technological and societal change, emphasizing the need for education systems to be forward-thinking and adaptable to prepare students for an unpredictable future job market.

Further, it's important that we in Europe cannot merely extract talent from Africa without investing in the educational infrastructure necessary to cultivate this talent. Sustainable development hinges on building local capabilities, not just depleting it, and investing in educating the African youth ensures that both continents will benefit from a well-educated and skilled workforce. This investment in human capital is crucial for achieving long-term prosperity and stability.

2. Jobs: We need to actively work on creating jobs, ensuring that young people on both continents have access to employment opportunities. Without jobs, people cannot contribute to building the society we all aspire to have.

3. Trade: We must modernize the frameworks governing EU-African trade. Both continents can achieve more seamless and beneficial economic interactions by addressing trade barriers. This integration will help both regions harness their unique strengths, leading to a more robust and resilient economic partnership

There are many other considerations and areas of partnering, but by investing in each other, addressing trade barriers, and reimagining education, we are laying a strong foundation on which we can build a peaceful and prosperous future together whilst setting a precedent for other international partnerships based on mutual respect and shared goals.