Ο Υπουργός Ναυτιλίας και Νησιωτικής Πολιτικής, Χρήστος Στυλιανίδης, ήταν βασικός ομιλητής στο 7ο Ελληνοβρετανικό Συμπόσιο που πραγματοποιήθηκε στις 16-17 Οκτωβρίου στο Λονδίνο και διοργανώθηκε από το Βρετανικό Συμβούλιο και το Οικονομικό Φόρουμ των Δελφών. Θέμα της ομιλίας του κ. Στυλιανίδη ήταν η εταιρική σχέση με την Αφρική σε σχέση με την ανταγωνιστικότητα της Ευρώπης και την ανάπτυξη των Αφρικανικών χωρών καθώς και η σημασία της συνεργασίας ΕΕ και ΗΒ.
Στο πλαίσιο της επίσκεψης στο Λονδίνο, ο κ. Στυλιανίδης είχε, επίσης, διμερή συνάντηση με την Υπουργό Αεροπορίας, Ναυτιλίας και Ασφάλειας Ηνωμένου Βασιλείου Baroness Vere of Norbiton. Στη συνάντηση, η οποία πραγματοποιήθηκε σε πολύ καλό κλίμα, επιβεβαιώθηκε η άριστη συνεργασία μεταξύ των δύο πλευρών, τόσο σε διμερές επίπεδο όσο και στο πλαίσιο του IMO. Συμφωνήθηκε, επίσης, να εξεταστούν τρόποι επέκτασης και εμβάθυνσης της συνεργασίας για την αντιμετώπιση των σύγχρονων προκλήσεων της ναυτιλίας και ιδιαίτερα στον τομέα της προώθησης της «πράσινης» ναυτιλίας.
Ο κ. Στυλιανίδης, στην ομιλία του στο 7ο Ελληνοβρετανικό Συμπόσιο εστίασε στην περίπτωση της Αφρικής και στον τρόπο με τον οποίο η Ε.Ε. και το Ηνωμένο Βασίλειο μπορούν να συνεργαστούν για την αντιμετώπιση “της πρόκλησης του αιώνα”, όπως ανέφερε χαρακτηριστικά καθώς και στο ρόλο της Ελλάδας. Στο πλαίσιο αυτό τόνισε ότι καινοτόμες πρωτοβουλίες μπορούν να βοηθήσουν την ανάπτυξη της Αφρικής και να αντιμετωπίσουν, ταυτόχρονα, τα προβλήματα ανταγωνιστικότητας της Ευρώπης διασφαλίζοντας έτσι και την ισορροπία του παγκόσμιου ανταγωνισμού.
Καταλήγοντας, ο κ. Στυλιανίδης, τόνισε ότι μια νέα στρατηγική εταιρική σχέση μεταξύ της Ε.Ε. και της Αφρικής, η οποία θα περιλαμβάνει και το Ηνωμένο Βασίλειο, είναι το κλειδί για ένα αποτέλεσμα θετικού αθροίσματος («win-win»), που θα αντιμετωπίζει τα ζητήματα ανταγωνιστικότητας στην Ευρώπη καθώς και τα ζητήματα της μετανάστευσης και θα ενισχύει τις αναπτυξιακές προοπτικές της Αφρικανικής ηπείρου. Διαβεβαίωσε, παράλληλα, ότι, η Ελλάδα είναι ένας αξιόπιστος Ευρωπαίος εταίρος ικανός να συμβάλει αποτελεσματικά σε μια τέτοια στρατηγική εταιρική σχέση, η οποία θα βασίζεται στις αρχές της ισότητας, του αμοιβαίου σεβασμού και της εμπιστοσύνης μεταξύ Ευρώπης και Αφρικής.
Ολόκληρο το κείμενο της ομιλίας του Υπουργού μπορείτε να το βρείτε εδώ:
Check Against Delivery
Dear Ministers,
Dear Ambassadors,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Let me first thank the British Embassy in Athens and the Greek Embassy in London for this kind invitation to participate at the 7th Greek-British Symposium.
Also, I sincerely thank the British Council and the Delphi Economic Forum, for the organization of this excellent event.
It is truly a great honor for me to be here. And a great opportunity to share my thoughts with such a distinguished audience.
Please do not worry!! I will be short. Very disciplined with my time. In 20 minutes, we will be all enjoying our great dinner.
In my presentation tonight, I would like to address the case of Africa and how the EU and the UK can work together in addressing what I would call “the challenge of the century”.
Consider this: In 1980, the African continent had five hundred (500) million people. Today, it has over one point two (1,2) billion.
And by 2050, this figure is expected to reach two and a half (2,5) billion.
Africa’s growing population is a “ticking time bomb”.
In contrast, the demographic landscape of the EU is completely different.
EU population is ageing. The old-age dependency ratio is now 33% compared to almost 6% in 2012.
And there is a slowdown in the EU population growth.
My argument is that a strong partnership with Africa, on an equal basis, can be the foundation for a win-win outcome. Both for Europe and for Africa.
By addressing “the Africa challenge” through innovative initiatives that can help Africa’s development, we address, at the same time, Europe’s competitiveness problems and secure the balance of global competition.
To be effective, it is paramount that our investments, our development aid, our humanitarian aid in the African continent are put within the framework of a new holistic and forward-looking strategy for Africa. Otherwise, it will fail.
Dear colleagues,
Economic competitiveness is the cornerstone of any resilient society.
However, in recent years, we have faced significant crises and obstacles: a financial crisis, a refugee crisis, a health emergency (Covid19), a war within Europe (Ukraine), an energy crisis and nowadays the Middle East crisis.
As we navigate a rather uncertain terrain, it is essential to acknowledge the hard reality: Europe is losing competitiveness.
Our economic activity has “slowed” down. And this weak growth momentum is expected to extend to the future.
We are at crossroads.
These are pressing issues with worldwide effects.
This is why we must work together, Europe and the UK, to restore our competitiveness.
We are all in the same boat.
My government believes in this strategic cooperation despite of Brexit. We believe in the cooperation with the UK.
Our Prime Minister - Kyriakos Mitsotakis - is a leader, who can work collectively and effectively to safeguard the collaboration between the European Union and the UK. And let me stress: the United Kingdom is a key ally and partner for the EU.
Delivering this speech here in London as Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy of Greece has its own special meaning. Greece and the United Kingdom share strong maritime heritage and rich maritime traditions.
And let me be frank: I have always believed that the UK is an essential part of Europe.
As a European Commissioner, who collaborated a lot with British institutions on humanitarian and development issues, I was a strong supporter of the “Remain” in the EU.
And I admit that I would like to see the UK returning into the EU sometime in the future.
Dear friends,
Maintaining and enhancing our competitiveness, however, in an ever-evolving world is not an easy task. It is one of our greatest challenges today.
To remain competitive, we need to think innovative, win-win solutions, “out of the box”.
Artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, and clean energy solutions represent areas where strategic investments can boost our standing on the global stage.
Europe's leadership in clean technology and renewable energy is not only a competitive advantage but a moral imperative.
By transitioning to a “green” economy and promoting sustainable practices, we not only protect our planet but also create opportunities for economic growth and job creation. In our region. And worldwide.
This brings me to the case of Africa.
And here allow me to draw my arguments partly from my experience as European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management in the Juncker Commission (2014-2019).
Under this capacity and also as EU Ebola Coordinator, I travelled all around Africa. I can say that I have experienced first-hand the African reality.
I saw on the ground the problems and the needs. But also, the potential. The opportunities.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Africa can be a common partnership ground for the EU and the UK.
2,5 billion people by 2050.
And 450 million young workers, with only 200 million new jobs available.
This means 250 million workers without jobs. They will go elsewhere to find work. Most likely, to Europe. And to the UK.
That is why we need to talk about sustainable Africa. A “strategic challenge”. Not only for Europe and the world. In particular, for Africa itself.
During my tenure as European Commissioner we established the “EU-Africa Trust Fund” with an initial budget of 4.5 billion Euros.
Additionally, the EU has contributed to growth and job creation through the External Investment Fund.
But we have to be honest. The “mixture” of a philanthropic and post-colonial approach to Africa has not brought the desired results.
Therefore, to address this:
First, we must foster better cooperation between development, governments, and the private sector. And promote innovation.
Second, reproductive health and family planning should be one of the main – one of the fundamental – drivers of development aid to Africa.
Third, education is not only a fundamental human right. It is the cornerstone of free, healthy, and sustainable societies.
Within this framework we need to develop a link between Europe and Africa as equal partners. In this way, on the one hand, Europe will cultivate Africa’s huge potential and, on the other, we will ensure stability on the African continent.
Tonight, I want to highlight four key areas:
- Market Access & IT services
Africa offers unique opportunities for market access and export growth.
Access which should not be limited to traditional goods. But which should be extended to services.
As information and communication technology (ICT) and the digital economy continue to flourish, trade in services is very important.
This will harness the enormous potential of Africa's predominantly young population.
The future lies in the digital sector. Aligning our efforts with Africa's digital transformation can rectify our competitive standing in this critical domain.
- Climate Change
Africa is hit hard by climate change. Unpredictable weather patterns and frequent natural disasters are the new norm.
When visiting Africa as European Commissioner, one of the most overwhelming and painful experiences was the sight of dead animals because of draught. And the food crisis affecting huge numbers of people.
The difficulties Africa faces in adapting to this new reality, are directly linked with high levels of migration and mobility.
The EU Green deal can be a catalyst for Africa’s transformation. Both on the adaptation and mitigation aspects of the climate change challenge.
We can work with Africa towards a low-carbon, resource-efficient and climate-resilient future, while remaining committed to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
- Agriculture
To reach the Sustainable Development Goal of zero hunger and to address the challenges of nutrition and food security, agriculture plays a pivotal role in Africa.
Working with the local communities and through targeted capacity building and assistance, we can support the development of environment-friendly agricultural practices and create sustainable agri-food systems.
Agriculture has the potential to provide employment for a significant part of the 800 million African people that are estimated to enter the workforce within the next 30 years.
Developing a sustainable agricultural model in Africa is an innovative idea which I believe needs to be examined carefully. This can be complementary to the EU Common Agricultural Policy.
- Energy
Africa's growing population will require a doubling of its energy supply by 2040. This should be done away from fossil fuels. The EU is well-placed to contribute significantly to this transition.
By deploying an innovative approach, we can play a leading role to shape Africa’s climate-neutral future, while addressing its energy needs.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Let me conclude by saying that our partnership with Africa allows the EU and the UK to demonstrate global leadership.
We can foster international cooperation, economic development, and sustainable practices while countering the influence of other global players. Here see China or maybe Russia.
The EU and the UK, we are both promoting good governance, transparency, environmental responsibility, and compliance with the humanitarian principles.
By doing so, we help Africa avoid falling into debt traps and ensure sustainable economic development.
Therefore, a new strategic partnership between the EU and Africa, which will include the UK, is key for a win-win equation which will address the competitiveness issues in Europe as well as the issues of migration.
And Greece can contribute greatly to this end. Due to its historical ties with the African continent. But also because it does not carry a negative colonial burden in the region. Therefore, Greece is a reliable European partner capable of effectively contributing to such a strategic partnership.
This partnership, of course, will be grounded on our principles and the principles of equality and mutual respect and trust between Europe and Africa.
In this way we can navigate through the multiple challenges and emerge much stronger. Building a brighter future for all.
Thank you.
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