Europe has spent a lot of money in development aid to Africa, but the results haven't always impressed. Which way forward now? Our guests debate.

Forum: Future of Africa-Europe relations

Hello, and welcome to  a special edition of Forum

from the European Development Days  in Brussels.

It's the time when the EU and the  so-called developing countries take stock.

In spite of the crisis, Brussels  keeps saying to whoever will listen

that over half the funds  intended to help poor countries

come from the European Union  and the Member States.

However, that has been  the situation for years

Good governance, economic crisis,  armed conflicts,

and hunger in the world  are always in the news.

So what makes some people say that  from now on things will be different?

That's what we'll try to analyse here  with my guests.

President Thomas Boni Yayi.  You're President of Benin.

Thank you for accepting our invitation.  -Thank you.

Facing you, on my left  is Patrick Le Hyaric.

You're an MEP,  a specialist in development policy,

but, as I always say, we know you also  as director of the newspaper L'Humanité.

On your left, I'm pleased to welcome  the news director of Voxafrica,

a satellite channel broadcasting  all over Africa, Erik Nyindu.

Welcome to you all. I'll come back  to my first question at the start.

Mr President, it's not the first time  you've been here,

Has something changed, and is there  really something that will change

Listen, I think that  there's rather a feeling of optimism

for the simple reason  that I ask myself the question,

if there was not  this strategic partnership with Europe,

If we look at the state of poverty  in the world,

and in the continent that I represent today

in my capacity as President  of the African Union, I can only...

My first reaction is firstly  to congratulate our European partners

for their commitment to this partnership  which I describe as strategic, since...

Do you talk about big money  or is it rather politics, pure and simple?

I come because it's a forum for exchange

and to talk about the future  of this strategic partnership.

As I said, we have to assess  where we are

and I consider that it's not a waste of time  for me as president of a country.

By the way, I'd like to congratulate,  I think, the European Commission

which is the linchpin,  for always thinking of Benin

and its participation every year  over the seven editions.

and I think it's the fourth or fifth time  I've participated.

And I continue to say that I think this  conference comes at a moment when...

And we've had a signal from the outside,

which is the Nobel Peace Prize  awarded to all of Europe

in order to congratulate you,  in our opinion,

for the role played by the European Union

Peace, stability and security  are fundamental

and constitute a priority, a precondition

for the eradication of poverty,  meeting the goals...

But, Mr President, poverty is still here.

The European Union continues  to give aid for development,

but we must say that, with the crisis,  some would like to reduce it.

Patrick Le Hyaric, when you hear that,  the importance of the EU is a fact,

than five or even 10 years ago.  We're still sitting on a powder keg.

No, it's true there is aid  that comes from the European Union,

but we're a long way  off the Millennium Goals.

Secondly, we must discuss  the quality of this aid.

Has this aid helped,  and is it really helping

It's not consistent across the whole  of the African continent unfortunately.

And also do the conditions attached to  this aid allow harmonious development

over all of the African continent?  We can have our doubts.

Today the poverty, famine and looting  of the African continent are continuing,

and the predominance  of multinational companies

and the multinational banking system  in the African continent still exists.

And yet one of the questions put to  the continent and each of the countries

food and energy sovereignty  and the development of human rights.

Erik Nyindu, what would you like  to say to that?

Of course. What you say,  Mr President, is true,

that Europe and Africa  have a strategic partnership.

But some subjects cause anger  between Europe and Africa.

For example, in Africa we hear  voices being raised more and more,

and as President of the African Union  you are well-placed to know this...

it doesn't want a relationship  where Europe gives out lessons.

Europe will say it wants to promote  its values, democracy, human rights.

I'll give you an example,  and you and I were both there

at the Francophonie Summit  in Kinshasa recently.

There was huge tension between  the French President, François Hollande,

The question of respect for human rights  in Africa was a stumbling block.

From that point of view,  Europe is losing ground in Africa.

We see the huge presence of emerging  countries, China, India and Brazil.

Do you perhaps think  that is an opportunity for Africa today?

by multiplying its dependence  on several partners?

Or should we remain fixed in  the strategic Europe-Africa partnership?