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The European Union and Africa continue without strengthening their relations. The colonial past, problems with migration and increased influence from Russia and China have meant that Europe has not paid enough attention to one of its most important neighbors. For its part, the African continent has insisted on the importance of ending a donor-recipient relationship and resuming it as equals.
The Covid-19 pandemic has further acrimonious relations between Africa and Europe and has not helped improve cooperation. While more than 70% of Europeans are fully vaccinated, the African continent barely exceeds 11%. Many countries rely on donated drugs, while wealthier nations have hoarded doses.
The European Union quickly closed its borders upon detecting the Omicron variant, increasing isolation and targeting of the African continent. In addition, Europe rejected the removal of patents, facing criticism from countries such as South Africa.
However, as an incentive to all the measures taken towards Africa, the European Union has reinforced the creation of centers for the continent to manufacture its own vaccines and has promised to donate 450 million doses in the first six months of the year.
At the last summit held in mid-February between the two blocs, the countries of the African Union asked that words be turned into deeds and that Europe commit to meeting its investment objectives. European leaders approved the investment of 150,000 million euros in the continent. The European Union is the main foreign investor in the continent and thus wants to strengthen its influence, avoiding the omnipresence of China and Russia in the region.
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