IN preparation for his trip to Africa last Friday, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala expressed a commitment to addressing the underestimation of cooperation with Africa by Europe. He emphasised the need for closer economic and political ties with the continent and recognised the importance of Europe’s active engagement. Fiala’s journey will take him to Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, and Cote d’Ivoire, where he aims to strengthen the Czech Republic’s connections with Africa.
Fiala stated that it is essential for Czechia and the European Union to abandon the perception of Africa as a distant entity. ‘It is already happening in other countries, and we must not stand aside,’ the prime minister said, acknowledging that Europe, including the Czech Republic, has historically undervalued its relations with Africa or struggled to effectively develop them.
‘We are aware of this, and the debates we are having in the European Council correspond to this,’ he added, indicating that Europe is taking steps to rectify the situation.
The increasing influence of Russia and China in Africa poses a significant challenge, as Fiala highlighted. ‘We are trying to change the situation. Yes, Russia is very intensively involved in Africa, and China is even more intensively involved there through various forms of cooperation and contacts. Europe must not stand aside. We must correct what we have neglected,’ the Czech Prime Minister emphasized.
One of t
he key issues in EU-Africa relations, according to Fiala, is migration and finding effective ways to curb illegal migration flows into Europe. He stressed that the European Union should engage not only with North African cou
ntries but also with nations from which people are migrating to the north.
Fiala’s visit to Africa encompasses both political and economic dimensions. He is accompanied by a Czech business delegation aiming to establish new regional contacts. For the Czech Republic, fostering stronger ties with Africa is not only a strategic political move but also a pragmatic one as the nation seeks to diversify its import and export partners.
