EU and the south-south relations

Although China has been present in Africa for some time, it could seem the EU was taken somewhat by surprise as it was realized that China actually had interests on the continent. To this end, there have been a number of papers and studies conducted on the subject of EU-China-Africa.

The EU is Africa’s number one trade partner and has a significant interest in the continent in regards to trade as well as aid and development. Forced by the WTO, the EU has been working to set up so called “European Partnership Agreements”, regulating a number of factors regarding trade, with African countries. These agreements have been criticized, by both European organizations and African leaders, for putting developing countries under too much pressure. The EU has also taken on extensive obligations regarding aid to Africa.

The conditions that the EU and other western states put up for trade and development aid are often regarding transparency and governance. Areas which many African nations are just beginning to evolve in, if at all. These conditions, sometimes demanding progress more rapidly than African governments feel possible, make it easy to turn to China, which sets little, if any demand, for change in the basis of the nations. African states also turn to China because it requires less negotiation and planning. Whereas Western partners plan and sit in meetings a lot, the Chinese make a promise and just do it, is a common opinion.