Can the European Union afford to maintain its role as the world’s largest provider of development assistance and humanitarian aid when so many in Europe including Ireland are suffering as a result of recession, unemployment, and cuts in welfare services?
The EU has long been committed to working with Africa and the rest of the developing world in tackling the threat to the planet from extreme poverty, inequality, climate change, and international crime. And Ireland was always been a strong supporter of this role of the EU and commands respect across the world for the work of its development NGOs, diplomats, and peace keeping forces.
The Irish presidency of the EU now faces a major challenge at a time of austerity of defending the historic co-operation between Europe and the developing world, and deserves the support of the citizens of Europe in meeting this challenge.
Despite major differences of degree, Europe’s victims of austerity and the 1.4 billion in the world who suffer extreme poverty share some common experiences that require more and not less solidarity. Isolationism and extreme nationalism can destroy the very existence of the EU, but Ireland is capable of rejecting any such threats and even strengthening the co-operation and solidarity between Europe and the developing world.
And the activities of extreme nationalists have to be taken seriously. There should be no forgetting Europe’s long history of conflict and war including a 20th century of concentration camps and mass cemeteries.
The link between poverty and conflict is well established, and the commitment of the EU as a resource for peace and development is key to its work as was highlighted by EU Commission President Manuel Barroso when the EU was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo last December.
As former Northern Ireland MEP John Hume always maintained, poverty is a threat to peace. He was active in the credit union movement in his early days and worked with some of the poorest in the community, and when he was awarded his Nobel Peace Prize he said if the only thing he had ever done was to work with credit unions, his life would not have been wasted.
The many EU and UN observers of elections in Africa can learn from their experiences, and help promote more schemes where African observers are present to observe elections in Europe. A greater awareness on the part of Europeans that they have much to learn from Africa would be welcome including lessons about elections and voting in Africa.
Among the elections I had the privilege to observe in Africa was the independence poll in Namibia when, along with fellow MEP Gene Fitzgerald, a former Finance Minister from Cork, we witnessed a voter turnout of more than 95 per cent. Who says that Africa needs to learn from Europe about democracy and the importance of voting?
The myths of Africa are too often about a ‘dark continent’ riddled with corruption and run by dictators, and a response from Europe of celebrity visits and charity – when what Africa needs is co-operation and solidarity.
Africa is only a short distance from Europe across the Strait of Gibraltar but knowledge of what life is like in Africa is extremely sparse. I learned this during a recent school visit when I was told that Africa was discovered in 1984 in Ethiopia by Bob Geldof, in recognition of which he became Sir Bob!
As Europeans we need to be aware of reality, for it is in the interests of all Europeans to help eliminate poverty and promote peace. And the Irish EU presidency can provide the political leadership that Europe so desperately needs to do this.
Michael McGowan is a former MEP and president of the development committee of the European Parliament.
