spiritsNEWS December 2020

EU-Africa relationship more important than ever before

This week should have seen EU-African relations reaching an important milestone with a strategic meeting between the leaders of the European Union and the African Union, cementing the European Commission’s renewed strategic approach to Africa which envisages a comprehensive and mature partnership between the two continents and explicitly recognises the role the private sector plays in supporting sustainable economic growth. Like so many other events this year, this mini-summit was cancelled, but it is important that the two sides do not lose momentum, in particular ahead of next year’s EU-African Union Summit.

The EU-Africa trade relationship will be central in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and represents a strategic priority for the EU. The continent is home to the world’s largest free trade area and 1.2-billion people. The Covid-19 pandemic has made the short-term outlook more uncertain, but regardless of its expected heavy economic toll, the European spirits sector remains committed to Africa, as highlighted in our Africa strategy published earlier this year.

Trade policy has again proved itself one of the tools whereby Europe can export best practices, support local development and establish a fairer and more responsible economy abroad. We have numerous examples of positive action and partnerships driven by our members in least developed regions, as outlined in our strategy. In order to continue this progress and to increase engagement, it is important to protect legitimate trade, by removing barriers and inefficiencies, such as high tariff and tax burdens, lengthy and burdensome customs procedures, discriminatory treatment of imported spirits or non-recognition of product specifications of some EU spirit drinks geographical indications (GIs). Another overarching and important goal is to tackle the rise of illicit trade.  

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