Europe should take the lead for a marshall plan for Africa

Europe may be too distracted by other crises to take the lead in what is really needed: a Marshall plan for Africa, where public agencies take full charge and do not simply delegate initiative to the private sector, or wait for the latter to take them. This statement was made by Dr. Alfred Sant, Head of the PL Delegation at the European Parliament in Strasbourg during the debate on the outcome of the Valletta Summit and G20 Summit.
‘To be honest, the Valletta summit was really motivated on the European side by the need to control the irregular flow of economic migration to Europe. It has however stimulated what should be an effective dialogue regarding the economic and social complementarities that should exist between Africa and Europe.’ said Dr. Sant.
The former Prime Minister said that Neo-liberal globalisation makes this very difficult to achieve. Actually, the European Union lacks the tools needed to help generate sufficient employment opportunities in Africa, to make economic emigration unattractive. Worse, many private projects in Africa spurred by globalisation have not served to increase job opportunities in the economy as a whole. Corruption, waste of resources and greater social inequalities have spread which spurs desperate people to go far from home to find work.
Dr. Sant said that African development should not be dominated by global, free market forces, but planned by agreement and effectively implemented. Many vested ideas and interests will have to change.
‘I hope that the Valletta summit was one first step in this very long process.’ remarked Dr. Sant.

Maltese Version – L-AFRIKA GĦANDHA BŻONN ‘MARSHALL PLAN’

L-Ewropa aljenata wisq bi kriżijiet oħra biex tħaddem pjan ta’ għajnuna simili għall-Marshall Plan għall-pajjiżi Afrikani, pjan li fih l-aġenziji pubbliċi jmexxu direttament u mhux jiddelegaw inizjattivi lis-settur privat, jew jistennew lilhom biex jidħlu għalihom. Dan qalu Dr Alfred Sant, Kap tad-Delegazzjoni Laburista fil-Parlament Ewropew fi Strasburgu, waqt dibattitu dwar l-eżitu tal-Valletta Summit u s-Summit tal-G20.
‘Jekk irridu nkunu onesti, min-naħa Ewropea l-Valletta Summit kien immotivat mill-ħtieġa li jkun hemm kontroll fuq il-mewġ irregolari tal-immigrazzjoni ekonomika lejn l-Ewropa. Madanakollu qanqlet dak li missu jkun djalogu effettiv fejn l-Afrika u l-Ewropa jtejbu l-qagħda ekonomika u soċjali ta’ xulxin.’ Qal Dr Sant.
Dr Sant qal li l-globalizzazzjoni neo-liberali hija xkiel biex dan iseħħ. Proprjament, l-Unjoni Ewropea ma għandhiex l-għodda li bihom tiġġenera biżżejjed opportunitajiet ta’ xogħol fl-Afrika, li permezz tagħhom l-immigrazzjoni ekonomika ma tibqax attraenti. Agħar minnhekk, ħafna proġetti privati fl-Afrika inħakmu mill-globalizzazzjoni u ma swewx biex jiżdiedu l-opportunitajiet ta’ xogħol fl-ekonomija b’mod ġenerali. Il-korruzzjoni, il-ħela tar-riżorsi u l-inugwaljanzi soċjali nfirxu aktar u dawn iqanqlu nies iddisprati biex jitilqu ’l bogħod minn darhom biex isibu xogħol.
Dr. Sant qal li l-iżvilupp fl-Afrika ma jridx ikun maħkum minn forzi u swieq ħielsa u globali. Minflok għandu jkun ippjanat sewwa u implimentat b’mod effettiv. Dr Sant qal li ħafna ideat u interessi li huma aċċettati, jeħtieġ li jinbidlu.

‘Nispera li l-Valletta summit serva ta’ tarġa li twassal lejn dan il-proċess twil ħafna.’ Qal Dr Sant.