“Europe in listening mode”

Zoom-Link: https://zoom.us/j/91043539087

Watch the recordings of the workshops here!

The European Parliament`s Committee on International Trade (INTA) will prepare its first draft position for the European Parliament on the future trade relations between the EU and Africa. The report of the European Parliament, which together with the results of the EU-Africa Summit in February will define the cornerstones, will guide the development of trade and investment relations between the two continents in the coming years.

The Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung is organising together with MEP Helmut Scholz, Rapporteur for a report by the Committee on International Trade (INTA) on the trade and investment relations between the EU and Africa, a series of online workshops on trade and investment relations between the European Union and the African continent. The aim of this series is to bring reflections and ideas from African officials, parliamentarians,academics, civil society actors and trade unionists from Africa to the process of drafting and to be given appropriate space. The focus of the debate will be an evaluation of the EU‘s region-based EPA approach and how it relates to the African approach of a Continental Free Trade Area, and what needs to be changed to make trade relations between both continents serve the common priority of achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

 

Passed events

 

Workshop I: Daressalam/East Africa Community
Wednesday, January 26th, 6:00–7:30pm (CET)

Speakers

Hon. Dr. Peter Mutuku Mathuki, Secretary General of EAC
“A brief evaluation of the trade and investment relations between EAC and EU. What went well, what could be better? How does the EU-EAC exchange relate to the achievement of the AfCFTA?”

• Dr. Isaac Shinyekwa, (Economic Policy Research Center, Makerere University)

“Ideas for improvements of exports from EAC member states to the African continent and to the European Union.”

• Ms. Jane S. Nalunga, (Executive Director, Southern and Eastern Africa Trade Information and Negotiations Institute (SEATINI) Uganda

“What evolution in trade and investment relations is needed to achieve the SDGs? How do these changes relate to the achievement of the AfCFTA?”

Comment

(tbc) MEP Massimiliano Salini, standing rapporteur for EU-EAC trade relations of the European Parliament’s Committee on International Trade

Moderator: MEP Helmut Scholz, rapporteur of the report on EU-Africa trade and investment relations of the European Parliament

Co-host: Dr Arif Rüzgar, Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, Brussels Office

 

Workshop II: Dakar/West and Central Africa
Wednesday, February 2nd, 6:00–7:30pm (CET)

Speakers

• Dr. Cheikh Tidiane Dieye, Director ENDA-CACID
• Dr. Ken Ukaoha, National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS)
• Mr. Wendell Addy, Pan-African Chamber of Commerce (PACCI)
• Dr. Ndongo Samba Sylla, development economist, Rosa Luxemburg Foundation office for West Africa (Dakar, Senegal)

Comment: MEP Pedro Silva Pereira (tbc), Standing Rapporteur for EU - West Africa trade relations of the European Parliament’s Committee on International Trade

Moderator: MEP Helmut Scholz, rapporteur of the report on EU - Africa trade and investment relations of the European Parliament

Co-host: Dr. Arif Ruezgar (Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, Brussels Office)

 

Upcoming events

 

Workshop III: Tunis/North Africa
Wednesday, February 9th, 6:00–7:30pm (CET)

Speakers

• Dr. Saker El Nour, Visiting Postdoctoral Fellow, Global Scholarly Dialogue Program of Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, Otto-Suhr Institute of Political Sciences, Freie Universität Berlin

“The nexus of EU - Africa and intra-African trade relations and the need for agricultural policy transformations and the possibilities of a just transition in the agriculture sectors in Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia.”

• Eng Mansur Ahmed, Chairman of the Pan African Manufacturers Association (PAMA)

“Trade and Africa’s Industrialisation agenda: what role for the EU, what role for AfCFTA?”

• Maha Ben Gadha, economic programme manager RLF, Tunis

“How to achieve Economic and Monetary Sovereignty in 21st Century Africa?”

Comments

(tbc) MEP Emmanuel Maurel, standing rapporteur for EU - Tunisia trade relations of the European Parliament’s Committee on International Trade

(tbc) MEP Kathleen van Brempt, standing rapporteur for EU - Maghreb trade relations of the European Parliament’s Committee on International Trade

Nele Eichhorn, DG TRADE, Head of Unit “Southern Neighbours, Middle East, Turkey, Russia and Central Asia”

Moderator: MEP Helmut Scholz, rapporteur of the report on EU - Africa trade and investment relations of the European Parliament

Co-host: Dr. Arif Ruezgar (Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, Brussels Office)
 

Workshop IV: Johannesburg/Southern Africa (SADC/ESA)
Wednesday, February 16th, 6:00–7:30pm (CET)

Speakers

• Ms. Hameda Deedat, The National Labour and Economic Institute (NALEDI, Braamfontain, COSATU House, South Africa)
• Ms. Souad Aden-Osman, Executive Director of the Coalition for Dialogue in Africa (CoDA, Addis Abeba, Ethiopia)
• Mr. Tirivangani Mutazu (tbc), African Forum and Network on Debt and Development (AFRODAD, Harare, Zimbabwe)
• Ms. Frances Davies, Zambia Alliance for Agroecology and Biodiversity (ZAAB)
• Embassy of Botswana to the EU (SADC Coordination) (tbc)
• Embassy of South Africa in Geneva (IPR) (tbc)

Invited for comments

• MEP Joachim Schuster, Standing Rapporteur for EU-SADC trade relations of the European Parliament’s Committee on International Trade
• MEP Saskia Bricmont, Standing Rapporteur for EU-ESA trade relations of the European Parliament’s Committee on International Trade

Moderator: MEP Helmut Scholz, rapporteur of the report on EU - Africa trade and investment relations of the European Parliament

Co-host: Dr. Arif Rüzgar (Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, Brussels Office)
 

How to join

Join us here: https://zoom.us/j/91043539087
 

Contact

Dr. Arif Rüzgar
Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung
Program Director for Economy and International Trade
arif.ruezgar@rosalux.org