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Transcript/Script((PLAYBOOK SLUG: EU Africa Summit
HEADLINE: EU-Africa Summit: Vaccines, Climate Investment, Security Top Agenda
TEASER: Four members of African Union have been suspended this year following military coups
PUBLISHED AT: 2/16/2022 at
BYLINE: Henry Ridgwell
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: London
VIDEOGRAPHER: Henry Ridgwell
VIDEO EDITOR:
SCRIPT EDITORS: Jepsen, Reifenrath, DJ (ok)
VIDEO SOURCE (S): APTN, Reuters, AFP, EU
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB _X_ TV _X_ RADIO __
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EDITOR NOTES:))
((INTRO))
[[Dozens of African heads of state are in Brussels for a summit of European Union and African Union leaders, beginning Thursday. The coronavirus pandemic, investment and security are high on the agenda, as Henry Ridgwell reports from London.]]
((VIDEO: AGENCY/EU FOOTAGE OF EUROPEAN / AFRICAN VACCINES))
In Europe, about 70 percent of the population has received at least one dose of coronavirus vaccine. In Africa, the figure is just 16 percent. That inequity is among the issues on the agenda at the summit.
((Stella Kyriakides, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety))
“Donating vaccines is one thing, but ensuring that people are vaccinated is another, and equity demands more than donations.”
((VIDEO: AGENCY/EU FOOTAGE OF GREEN TECHNOLOGIES IN AFRICA))
The EU aims to launch a new Africa-Europe investment package.
Europe is seeking to diversify supply chains as it transitions to a green economy. Africa is rich in raw materials such as the rare earth minerals Europe needs for battery technologies.
In December, the bloc unveiled a 300 billion dollar “Global Gateway” fund to invest in jobs, green technologies and digital infrastructure.
((VIDEO: AGENCY/EU FOOTAGE OF MIGRANTS REACHING EUROPE))
Managing migration is also high on Europe’s agenda.
((Hassan Khannenje, Horn International Institute for Strategic Studies))
“It is important that European leaders, and the EU especially, finds a framework of working with the African leaders and African countries, number one, in being able to arrest and manage the refugee problem between the source countries, the transit countries as well as the destination countries.”
((VIDEO: AGENCY FOOTAGE OF WAR IN ETHIOPIA, MALI))
Security in Africa will also feature in the talks. The war in northern Ethiopia has killed thousands of people. There are insurgencies in Mali, Mozambique, Central African Republic, Nigeria and Somalia.
((VIDEO: AGENCY FOOTAGE OF COUPS IN GUINEA, BURKINA FASO))
Meanwhile, Mali, Guinea, Sudan, and Burkina Faso have been suspended from the African Union following military coups.
((Nana Akufo-Addo, Ghanaian President (in English) ))
“The resurgence of coups d'état in our region is a matter of grave concern. This evolution challenges the democratic way of life we have chosen.”
((VIDEO: AGENCY FOOTAGE OF AMNESTY PROTEST IN BRUSSELS))
Several of the visiting heads of state are not democratically elected. Critics say Europe should not be rolling out the red carpet for autocratic leaders, like Egypt’s Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi.
((Eve Geddie, Amnesty International))
"The rights and lives of the Egyptian people, must come before deepening ties with this oppressive regime. This is an important moment to hold President el-Sissi to account for his human rights commitments."
((VIDEO: EU FOOTAGE OF SUMMIT PREPARATIONS, THEN CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER))
Meanwhile, Europe’s efforts to deepen economic and political ties with Africa come amid growing Chinese investment on the continent, which analysts say often comes with fewer conditions attached.
((Henry Ridgwell, for VOA News, London.))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)London
BylineHenry Ridgwell
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
