EU needs coherent approach to African development

Merritt is a former Brussels correspondent for the Financial Times and considers himself a “sceptical Europhile”. His think tank is based in Brussels.

In his recent book, which has the title “Slippery slope – Europe's troubled future”, he takes stock of various major trends hat affect the EU, elaborating many issues that I do not want to tackle here. His arguments relating to Africa are of developmental relevance, however, so I'll briefly sum up his reasoning here. I plan to add another post next week concerning Merritt's assessment of Asian development and the EU.

The policy wonk states that Africa is changing fast. If development works out well, Africa's agriculture will bloom and contribute to feeding the world population. Moreover, African manufacturing will expand fast thanks to a huge potential workforce. Merritt points out that Africa's population is set to double from about one billion people today to two billion people by 2050. The sheer numbers imply that cities will grow fast and that full employment will require fast economic expansion.

Merritt reckons that success is possible, but will require huge infrastructure investments, both in terms of physical and social infrastructures. To become a dynamic and productive work force, Africa's young generation needs education, for example, and it needs access to liveable cities that offer opportunities. To make African farms more productive, moreover, rural roads, irrigation and many other things are needed. Africa is the last continent that still has unfarmed arable land, Merritt insists, but it cannot be used productively unless facilities for storing, processing and transporting food improve dramatically.

On the other hand, a dystopia looms should things go wrong. As Merritt warns, hunger and need will plague the continent, and masses of frustrated young people will linger around dismal urban slums. Conflicts over water and other resources look likely to the Brussels-based pundit, with religious fundamentalism adding to problems. Ever more people would want to flee from their homes and migrate to Europe.

It is obvious which scenario would be good for Europe and which one would be bad. According to Merritt, the EU has a vital interest in making Africa a success story. At the same time, he does not see the EU rising to the challenge. Its policymakers look absorbed by internal European issues, and its private-sector companies shy away from risks they perceive in Africa. At the same time, the governments and business leaders from emerging markets are becoming ever more engaged. Merritt warns that China is gaining a reputation for generously supporting African infrastructure development, while the EU looks aloof and disorganised.

In Merritt's eyes, the EU needs a coherent and forceful policy to support African development and safeguard peace there. Some member governments, he argues, believe that they can do the job on their own, especially if they have ties to specific countries because of colonial history. That notion is wrong, Merritt warns. The challenges are so huge that joint action is needed. In Merritt's eyes, the EU can rise to the challenges if it acts coherently.

The book was written before Britons voted to leave the EU in a referendum in June. No doubt, coherent action has thus become more difficult, but not impossible, and certainly not less urgent. The remaining members will have to do more to coordinate their policymaking and empower EU institutions to play their role properly. It would certainly be wise to involve Britain in as many issues as possible.

Reference: Giles Merritt, 2016: Slippery slope – Europe's troubled future. Oxford: University Press