Lessons for Africa’s Integration inspired by the EU Integration
Download as PPTX, PDF0 likes571 views
The document analyzes the economic landscape of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and compares it to other global economies, highlighting its fast growth and large market potential. It discusses the challenges and lessons of integration, emphasizing that Africa's integration requires more than supranational institutions, advocating for lower-level cooperation first. The text outlines institutional frameworks, historical agreements, and the importance of pragmatic approaches for enhancing economic and political ties among African nations.
Lessons for Africa’s Integration inspired by the EU Integration
- 1. Gabila Nubong University of Pretoria
- 2. The GDP of SSA was US$744 billion, which was equivalent of 28% of China’s GDP, 69% of Brazil’s, 74% of Russia’s, and 80% of India’s. The economies of South Africa and Nigeria comprised 56% of SSA’s GDP. Amongst the fastest growing regions in the world currently. Population of Over 1 billion huge potential market.
- 3. Key argument & main conclusion. Theoretical Framework: Models of Integration Europe’s Experience of Integration. Africa’s Experience of integration Challenges with Africa’s Integration Lessons from European Experience
- 4. The integration of Europe is not the fruit of single model but a coalescence of perhaps competing models, cannot be replicated but offers useful lessons for other integration experiences including for Africa Meaningful integration for Africa would require more than the creation of EU styled Supranational Institutions of Integration. More low level cooperation & sector based regional cohesion (e.g tourism) is prerequisite to political & economic integration. Key Argument Main Conclusion
- 5. The Organs of the AU The Assembly The Executive Council The Commission The Permanent Representatives' Committee Peace and Security Council (PSC) Pan-African Parliament ECOSOCC : The Economic, Social and Cultural Council, The Court of Justice The Specialized Technical Committees The Financial Institutions The African Central bank; The African Monetary Fund; The African Investment Bank
- 6. 1.Gradual creation of supranational regional organisations + deepening econ integration. 2.Overlapping & institutional strong interstate arrangements or regimes. 3. Complex & evolving mixture of traditional Intergovernmentalism & emerging suprationalism. 4.Strong regional hegemon that policies the foreign policy of states within its sphere of influence
- 7. European States driven to develop supranational institutions: being better suited to perform certain tasks, increase info & reduce transaction costs (Haas,1958). Lib InterGov: Bargains struck between nation states, with geopolitical interests that militate towards the pooling of sovereignty in a given historical context. Mix of institutional leadership with flexible mechanisms of implementation(variable geometry, Europe a la Carte or two speed Europe)
- 8. Treat of Rome (1957) Single Act(1986),Maastrich t(1992) & Amsterdam (1997). Nice (2001) and Lisbon (2007) Solving problem of conflict competiveness of common market, financial stability & social challenges Enlargement & globalisation Creation of external action service
- 9. Economically small, sparsely populated, rudimentary production structures & poor transport infrastructure linkages. Economic integration seen as a means of helping overcome the disadvantages of small populations, narrow resource bases and making possible higher rates of economic growth and development. Divergent views on pace and pathway of integration, full political integration Vs slow institutional groups focusing on functional cooperation
- 10. Lagos Plan of Action (1980), ‘united African economic bloc, common tariffs, parliament, common currency in 20 yrs. Abuja Treaty (1990)- African Economic Community (AEC)-full economic community over 34 years (1994-2028),six stages, ending in economic union with a common currency, mobility of factors & free trade. 2000, OAU-AU,NEPAD + goal of AEC by 2030 renewed, Non interference updated
- 11. Overlapping membership, unfulfilled commitments & unrealistic goals. Limits to integration include 1.Institutions of governance. 2. Structural conditions of poorly developed economies. 3.Dependence on one or two primary products. 4.Lack of capacity to assert policy preferences in international economic relations.
- 12. Meaningful integration must present clear economic and political benefits of belonging. Most respond to external threats& opportunities and take cognisance of international political reality. Pragmatic approaches that put the interests of the nations ahead. Promote meaningful cooperation, build trust as a prerequisite for deeper integration. Integrate around a political & economic program