Post by jakaswanga on Apr 12, 2014 11:20:10 GMT 3
A century of EU-AFRICA Summits, 1885- 2014: from Otto Von Bismarck to Angela Merkel
Coming hot in the heels of the Nuclear Security Summit in the Hague which brought more than 80 World Leaders (including Xi Jinpin Of China and Barrack Obama of the USA,) to the Dutch capital, I was minded to register the [02/03 April] 2014 EU-Africa summit in Brussels as just another footnote, until I saw a humorous cartoon in Belgian satirical paper which portrayed Angela Merkel as the Iron 'chancelloress', battling Putin over East Europe and China over, wait for it, Afrika. ---Can we trust her? Obama was asking his CIA in the toon. Yes, so long as she does not win! The company answered!
--A troubled alliance thus, Euro-German-American relations. (but that one we tackle at the
appropriate thread
The Iron ‘chancelloress’! Germany against the ‘’World’’, her white knight female, but perhaps of the deadly kind who eats males dead at the head as they mate!
That was when a bell rang inside the chambers of my cranium, and I remembered another German IRON chancellor of long ago, [in office 1873-1809]. That is the cold-blood Otto von Bismarck, the man who convened the Berlin Conference of 1885 to partition Africa. Of course this is that most infamous of conferences that launched the famous scramble for Africa by European powers, actually only after the American adventurer, propagandist and salesmen Henry Morton Stanley, aka Bula Matari had incensed their appetites to pious greed, and had them on the Pavlov loop with his El Dorado concoctions.
--Through the dark continent, 1878.
In that period of forging a new World order led by a new European awakening, the most formidable ruler in Europe was the German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, and today, equally, the undisputed leader of the EU is the German chancellor, Angela Merkel. And if Von Bismarck heading a young German nation then was paranoid of the intentions of surrounding powers, Merkel too now, accosted by these [imaginary?] challenges heralded in the Belgium cartoon, may be no less paranoid, even as she puts forth a placid face of sanity. ---Though of course we heard her telling the POTUS Obama in a famous telephone call, that Vladimir Putin was ‘’living in another world’’! But first: Look around you dear readers! How are the great questions of our day decided? Have not armies wilted away, and defence budgets become relics; and now, as we only make love and never war, defence expenditures are but monuments for financial archaeologist to stare at in awe, stupefied by so much stupidity and waste of scarce resources, then purely dedicated to killing other humans!?
[Otto/Angela] It is a historical parallel worth ruminating on deeply and occasionally tabloidly. Otto, for all is toughness of REAL POLITIK, was just a precursor to the Weimer republic, and consequently two huge convulsions called world wars, with Germany at the center. ---Perhaps the new Iron Chancellor has, in the meantime, has learnt a thing or two from history and will steer Germany differently?
No more blood and iron, but peace and love, the Otishotish way!
THE FOURTH EU-AFRIKA SUMMIT, 2-3 APRLI 2014, BRUSSELS, BELGIUM.
We have been trading for more than 130 years with Europe in the modern era since the Berlin conference of 1885! Well, sort of mutual trade anyway, with mostly Africans being traded, and the trade off a pitiance for our countries of course. But 100+ years to me is enough time to establish some real trade relationships, so, if we have not succeeded in this time, I am ready to be low key and lacklustre, or downright much disinterested. Better Afrika look elsewhere for better economic deals and trade offs. I think Europe is too entrenched in its historical dominance over Afrika to be an equal negotiating partner. Our relationship is too diseased, and should only be indulged when there is no alternative. Alternatives abound now, first of which is inter-Afrika free trade! This must involve the radical step of total free movement of goods and people across Afrika.
We do that, we do not need EPA’s and other would be preferential patronage documents. But meanwhile, the current crop of African leaders do need their EPA’s, for these, like the doping drug EPO, is for them a shot of growth hormone in their cretin abilities. The East African Economic Area already signed up ---otherwise the so-called DONOR FUNDS we are so pleased with would not come.
The EPA’s with the EU, we should discuss them at length fairly and squarely. There are pros, there are cons, but that the EU refused to negotiate with Afrika as a block, AU, is already a spanner in the works that is a punctured front tyre.
www.stopepa.de/img/EPAs_Briefing.pdf
EU SETS OCTOBER 2014 AS EPA DEADLINE.
What on earth are EPAS –economic partnership agreements [with African/Caribbean countries].
www.dw.de/eu-africa-summit-to-debate-free-trade/a-17534406
cartoon DN
Coming hot in the heels of the Nuclear Security Summit in the Hague which brought more than 80 World Leaders (including Xi Jinpin Of China and Barrack Obama of the USA,) to the Dutch capital, I was minded to register the [02/03 April] 2014 EU-Africa summit in Brussels as just another footnote, until I saw a humorous cartoon in Belgian satirical paper which portrayed Angela Merkel as the Iron 'chancelloress', battling Putin over East Europe and China over, wait for it, Afrika. ---Can we trust her? Obama was asking his CIA in the toon. Yes, so long as she does not win! The company answered!
--A troubled alliance thus, Euro-German-American relations. (but that one we tackle at the
appropriate thread
The Iron ‘chancelloress’! Germany against the ‘’World’’, her white knight female, but perhaps of the deadly kind who eats males dead at the head as they mate!
That was when a bell rang inside the chambers of my cranium, and I remembered another German IRON chancellor of long ago, [in office 1873-1809]. That is the cold-blood Otto von Bismarck, the man who convened the Berlin Conference of 1885 to partition Africa. Of course this is that most infamous of conferences that launched the famous scramble for Africa by European powers, actually only after the American adventurer, propagandist and salesmen Henry Morton Stanley, aka Bula Matari had incensed their appetites to pious greed, and had them on the Pavlov loop with his El Dorado concoctions.
--Through the dark continent, 1878.
In that period of forging a new World order led by a new European awakening, the most formidable ruler in Europe was the German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, and today, equally, the undisputed leader of the EU is the German chancellor, Angela Merkel. And if Von Bismarck heading a young German nation then was paranoid of the intentions of surrounding powers, Merkel too now, accosted by these [imaginary?] challenges heralded in the Belgium cartoon, may be no less paranoid, even as she puts forth a placid face of sanity. ---Though of course we heard her telling the POTUS Obama in a famous telephone call, that Vladimir Putin was ‘’living in another world’’! But first:
In 1862 the Prussian king, Wilhelm, wanted to create larger armies to effectively enforce Prussia’s foreign policy. The parliament was resistant to allocate the necessary funds, and the nation’s war minister convinced the king to entrust the government to Von Bismarck.
Blood and Iron
In a meeting with legislators in late September 1862, Bismarck made a statement which would become notorious. “The great questions of the day will not be decided by speeches and resolutions of majorities… but by blood and iron.”
Blood and Iron
In a meeting with legislators in late September 1862, Bismarck made a statement which would become notorious. “The great questions of the day will not be decided by speeches and resolutions of majorities… but by blood and iron.”
[Otto/Angela] It is a historical parallel worth ruminating on deeply and occasionally tabloidly. Otto, for all is toughness of REAL POLITIK, was just a precursor to the Weimer republic, and consequently two huge convulsions called world wars, with Germany at the center. ---Perhaps the new Iron Chancellor has, in the meantime, has learnt a thing or two from history and will steer Germany differently?
No more blood and iron, but peace and love, the Otishotish way!
THE FOURTH EU-AFRIKA SUMMIT, 2-3 APRLI 2014, BRUSSELS, BELGIUM.
We have been trading for more than 130 years with Europe in the modern era since the Berlin conference of 1885! Well, sort of mutual trade anyway, with mostly Africans being traded, and the trade off a pitiance for our countries of course. But 100+ years to me is enough time to establish some real trade relationships, so, if we have not succeeded in this time, I am ready to be low key and lacklustre, or downright much disinterested. Better Afrika look elsewhere for better economic deals and trade offs. I think Europe is too entrenched in its historical dominance over Afrika to be an equal negotiating partner. Our relationship is too diseased, and should only be indulged when there is no alternative. Alternatives abound now, first of which is inter-Afrika free trade! This must involve the radical step of total free movement of goods and people across Afrika.
We do that, we do not need EPA’s and other would be preferential patronage documents. But meanwhile, the current crop of African leaders do need their EPA’s, for these, like the doping drug EPO, is for them a shot of growth hormone in their cretin abilities. The East African Economic Area already signed up ---otherwise the so-called DONOR FUNDS we are so pleased with would not come.
The EPA’s with the EU, we should discuss them at length fairly and squarely. There are pros, there are cons, but that the EU refused to negotiate with Afrika as a block, AU, is already a spanner in the works that is a punctured front tyre.
www.stopepa.de/img/EPAs_Briefing.pdf
EU SETS OCTOBER 2014 AS EPA DEADLINE.
What on earth are EPAS –economic partnership agreements [with African/Caribbean countries].
www.dw.de/eu-africa-summit-to-debate-free-trade/a-17534406
October free trade deadline approaching
"Since the Doha round in the year 2000, the EU has had an offer on the table - approved by the World Trade Organization - which would give the world's poorest countries, 33 of which are African, tariff-free access to Europe's markets," said Francisco Mari, specialist in trade, agriculture and fisheries at the German development aid organization "Bread for the World." This would include all countries in which per capita income is less than $500 (363 euros) a year. In return, those countries would open up their markets to goods from the EU. The deadline for the deal set by the EU is October 2014. The world's poorest countries have until that date to sign EPAs with the EU which include provisions for tariff-free trade. Otherwise the EU will begin to impose tariffs on goods from those countries.
Education is one area observers believe the EU-Africa summit needs to address
So far only four African countries have ratified this agreement. African governments are nervous about the consequences of opening up their markets to EU goods and have been delaying any decision for as long as possible.
"Politically they really need to push EPAs center-stage," said Jack Mangala, professor of political science and Africa studies at Grand Valley State University in Michigan, USA. "The African heads of state need to be aware of the political consequences of not signing these agreements before the October deadline," he said.
A new market for Europe's service industries?
Now that the EU has opened up its markets for development policy reasons, it wants African nations to open up their markets to EU goods. This would give European firms an edge over competitors from elsewhere. "The Europeans obviously want to sell their plant and machinery and spare parts to Africa. And there would be no tariffs, so they would be a better position than the Americans or the Chinese who would face such levies," said Mari.
The EU does not want just a free trade zone for goods with Africa, but also for service industries as well such as banks, insurance companies or consultancies. If tenders were to be invited for the building of a hospital, for example, then companies from all over the EU would be able to bid for the contract. African companies would find it difficult to compete with them.
Africa's natural resources are coveted by many
Even though time is running out, a breakthrough is not to be expected at this summit, says Alex Vines, head of the Africa Program at Chatham House, London, UK. "Africa is divided on this issue," he said. The agreement will probably be mentioned in the final communique but the tough negotiating won't start until after the summit.
Mari believes that Africa will adopt a more self-confident posture at this summit, because it is no longer dependent solely on the EU as a partner in development. China, South Korea and the United States are alternatives.
"If one examines the relative strengths of Africa and the EU, then this is clearly not a level playing field and won't be for some time," said Mangala. "But that is at least the objective - to transform the relationship between donor and recipient into one of partnership rooted in equality. We haven't got there yet," he said.
The EU and its 28 member states are the largest donors of development assistance to Africa, spending over 18.5 billion euros in 2012 alone. This was over half of the state support provided worldwide to combat poverty on the continent.
"Since the Doha round in the year 2000, the EU has had an offer on the table - approved by the World Trade Organization - which would give the world's poorest countries, 33 of which are African, tariff-free access to Europe's markets," said Francisco Mari, specialist in trade, agriculture and fisheries at the German development aid organization "Bread for the World." This would include all countries in which per capita income is less than $500 (363 euros) a year. In return, those countries would open up their markets to goods from the EU. The deadline for the deal set by the EU is October 2014. The world's poorest countries have until that date to sign EPAs with the EU which include provisions for tariff-free trade. Otherwise the EU will begin to impose tariffs on goods from those countries.
Education is one area observers believe the EU-Africa summit needs to address
So far only four African countries have ratified this agreement. African governments are nervous about the consequences of opening up their markets to EU goods and have been delaying any decision for as long as possible.
"Politically they really need to push EPAs center-stage," said Jack Mangala, professor of political science and Africa studies at Grand Valley State University in Michigan, USA. "The African heads of state need to be aware of the political consequences of not signing these agreements before the October deadline," he said.
A new market for Europe's service industries?
Now that the EU has opened up its markets for development policy reasons, it wants African nations to open up their markets to EU goods. This would give European firms an edge over competitors from elsewhere. "The Europeans obviously want to sell their plant and machinery and spare parts to Africa. And there would be no tariffs, so they would be a better position than the Americans or the Chinese who would face such levies," said Mari.
The EU does not want just a free trade zone for goods with Africa, but also for service industries as well such as banks, insurance companies or consultancies. If tenders were to be invited for the building of a hospital, for example, then companies from all over the EU would be able to bid for the contract. African companies would find it difficult to compete with them.
Africa's natural resources are coveted by many
Even though time is running out, a breakthrough is not to be expected at this summit, says Alex Vines, head of the Africa Program at Chatham House, London, UK. "Africa is divided on this issue," he said. The agreement will probably be mentioned in the final communique but the tough negotiating won't start until after the summit.
Mari believes that Africa will adopt a more self-confident posture at this summit, because it is no longer dependent solely on the EU as a partner in development. China, South Korea and the United States are alternatives.
"If one examines the relative strengths of Africa and the EU, then this is clearly not a level playing field and won't be for some time," said Mangala. "But that is at least the objective - to transform the relationship between donor and recipient into one of partnership rooted in equality. We haven't got there yet," he said.
The EU and its 28 member states are the largest donors of development assistance to Africa, spending over 18.5 billion euros in 2012 alone. This was over half of the state support provided worldwide to combat poverty on the continent.
cartoon DN 
partner, providing more than 140 billion euros in aid 
between 2007 and 2013, including 18 billion in 2012 - nearly half the world's aid to the continent.
in the Central African Republic, a reminder that peace and stability are a pre-requisite for any closer trade and investment relations.
over there is the promised land, the Melila enclave, spain, Europe.
