"If Africa fails, there’s no way Europe can succeed"



Another speaker at the hearing, EU High-Representative Federica Mogherini, reminded MEPs that the EU and its member states invest more in development cooperation than the rest of the world combined: “This means in real terms €20 billion every year in Africa alone.”



Referring to the new European Consensus for Development, Mogherini said EU countries and the European institutions must coordinate their development actions: “The potential impact of our action is unparalleled if we all focus together, as Europeans, on the same set of targets in a coordinated manner.”



Citing the recent migration crisis in Europe, she described the EU’s investment in Africa as the “smartest one Europe can make for our own security and our own stability” as “if Africa fails, there’s no way Europe can succeed”.