Congratulations to our European brothers and sisters whom we in Africa first met as friends, trading partners and missionaries, then as slave traders and colonial masters and now as ‘partners’ in the global arena of inequality.
Europeans rolled out the drums last Saturday, March 25 to celebrate the sixtieth anniversary of The Treaty of Rome, which gave birth to the European Union (EU). An African saying advices that we rejoice with others when they celebrate because only the living rejoice. Congratulations to our European brothers and sisters whom we in Africa first met as friends, trading partners and missionaries, then as slave traders and colonial masters and now as ‘partners’ in the global arena of inequality.
When the celebrants returned to Rome in celebration of their perceptive deed six decades ago, it was like witnessing a troubled marriage, with the partners renewing their vows. Fittingly, they first went before a priest, Pope Francis, for spiritual blessings. The Holy Father told leaders of the twenty seven countries, “You are called on to blaze the path of a new European humanism… When a body loses its sense of direction and is no longer able to look ahead, it experiences a regression and, in the long run, risks dying”.
The atmosphere was dampened by a security lockdown of the Rome city centre, with vehicles banned and tourist centres shut on the day of celebration. Three thousand policemen were on ground, snipers on rooftops and drones in the sky. It was a reflection of the times, as terrorists have turned even vehicles to weapons of mass murder.
The financial crisis that hit the continent had also seen the EU, in an unprecedented manner, set loose the dogs on its own members like Greece. Even host Italy had a feel of the Eurozone dog bite. The EU also has to contend with the rise of Eurosceptic parties who have no confidence in the union. Its handling of the refugee crisis has also seen Europe lose the moral high ground as it groped for a direction in a fast changing world.
But the main looming shadow on the celebrations was bad boy Britain. While others celebrated in Rome, it was putting finishing touches to its decision to activate the Article 50 exit button from the EU.
Europeans, for centuries, ruled and led the rest of the world. Then, one of their former colonies, the United States (US) sped off on a fast train overtaking them. This was followed by another former colony, China, which took off on the bullet train, out pacing them and is now almost catching up with the US.
France had opposed Britain joining the then European Economic Community, which transformed into the EU. While blocking Britain’s effort to join the European body in 1963, then French President Charles de Gaulle advised that the temperament and interests of Britain do not coincide with that of the rest of Europe. He argued: “England in effect is insular, she is maritime, she is linked through her interactions, her markets and her supply lines to the most diverse and often the most distant countries; she pursues essentially industrial and commercial activities, and only slight agricultural ones. She has, in all her doings, very marked and very original habits and traditions.”
Nine years later, the government of Ted Heath was able to get Britain admitted but that country was never an exemplary member; it declined to join the Euro single currency or the Shengen Visa arrangement which gave holders of the visa free movement across all EU member states. It was the admission of East European countries that really got Britain mad as it was not willing to allow EU members from those parts of Europe free access to its labour and social security benefits.
Despite these challenges, the European Council President, Donald Tusk was upbeat. He told the EU leaders: “The European Union is not about slogans, it is not about procedures, it is not about regulations. Our Union is a guarantee that freedom, dignity, democracy and independence are no longer only our dreams, but our everyday reality…Europe as a political entity will either be united, or will not be at all. Only a united Europe can be a sovereign Europe in relation to the rest of the world”.
Tusk is right about some of the achievements of the EU as it united its members in a common market, encouraged the free flow of capital, labour and goods and placed priority on human rights. But these were for Europeans, and not universal.
Despite its challenges, I wish the EU well primarily because I want Africa to tread the same path of a united continent. Long before the Rome Treaties, many visionary African leaders had advocated the same type of unity for Africa. Kwame Nkrumah had even gone to the extent of proposing a single country for the continent, with the capital in the central part…
Europeans, for centuries, ruled and led the rest of the world. Then, one of their former colonies, the United States (US) sped off on a fast train overtaking them. This was followed by another former colony, China, which took off on the bullet train, out pacing them and is now almost catching up with the US.
The Europeans had demonstrated uncommon unity in the 1884-85 Berlin Conference where they worked out modalities to carve up Africa into colonies without clashing. But an all-European War from 1914 to 1917, and a more brutal one, called the Second World War, to which they drew in the rest of humanity, devastated them. In this second war, they suffered massive destruction, and watched their power wane and decline. Their colonies, from which they got free minerals, agricultural products at little or no costs, and cheap labour, were slipping out of their hands. India had become independent, despite the best efforts of Britain, and the Vietnamese had, in 1954, militarily defeated an European power, France, in the decisive Battle of Dien Bien Phu. Ghana, in 1957, had snatched independence from of the hands of Britain, and other colonies like Algeria and Kenya were restless.
The Europeans thought they needed to end their old rivalries and begin to unite. It was under these circumstances that they met to ratify the Rome Treaties. What can also be said about the EU is that Europeans have largely avoided the kind of catastrophic wars they plunged the world into in the first half of the Twentieth Century. However, in collaboration with their American allies, they have lit the fires of war in some parts of the world, from Iraq to Afghanistan, Libya to Syria. They had also given Georgia the confidence to seize Russian soldiers, leading to the later literarily trampling on that part of the world that produced Stalin. Twice the EU members have encouraged the overthrow of democratically elected governments in Ukraine; one under a so-called ‘Orange revolution’, and the second over whether that country should sign a trade agreement with Russia or EU. Now, Ukraine is embroiled in a civil war.
Despite its challenges, I wish the EU well primarily because I want Africa to tread the same path of a united continent. Long before the Rome Treaties, many visionary African leaders had advocated the same type of unity for Africa. Kwame Nkrumah had even gone to the extent of proposing a single country for the continent, with the capital in the central part, with one currency, one economy and one military. Tragically, we have largely failed. The salutary effort of the East African Community, which did a commendable integration from 1967 to 1977, fell to the bullets of parochial politics. Once again, congrats to the EU.
Owei Lakemfa, former Secretary General of African Workers is a Human Rights activist, journalist and author.
