Friday, March 6, 2020

FANTI: Long-time EAC, EU partnership remains solid

Manfredo Fanti, The EU ambassador to Tanzania.
Manfredo Fanti, The EU ambassador to Tanzania. PHOTO | SUSAN MBISE 
CHRISTOPHER KIDANKA
By CHRISTOPHER KIDANKA
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The EU envoy to Tanzania Manfredo Fanti, sent to Dar after a 2018 falling out over rights concerns, spoke to Christopher Kidanka on the new ties.
The EU tried in introduce Economic Partnership Agreement with East Africa but some countries especially Tanzania were skeptical. What is your take on that? Is there Plan B for EPA?
Economic Partnership Agreement is not only a free-trade agreement, but has very a strong component of regional integration in the East African Community and development. It is quite well articulated.
There is a tendency for most people to concentrate on the free trade part because it is the one that attract attention and touches directly on the flow of goods between the two regions.
It is true that after negotiation some countries were keen to stay on but others had some doubts, for instance of Tanzania. It is completely legitimate to request further clarification about the agreement. We are open to have discussions with the EAC for further clarify on the content and future of the agreement.
We do not intend to force anyone to accept what they do not consider appropriate. The EU believes that it is a good agreement because it establishes an obligation on the part of the EU and an arithmetic system, meaning that all products from East Africa will enter the European market free of duty while the European products coming here will see a gradual reduction of Customs tariffs.
For certain products the reduction will be 15 years and for others it will be 25 years. We think it is a balanced agreement that takes into account the interests of the region.
East Africa has been a strategic partner of the European Union for long given the history of the two. What do the EU and EAC blocs have for each other?
The principles of partnership between the European Union and East Africa are included in the Cotonou Agreement, which is going to be revised and renegotiated this year.
Specifically, East Africa is an important region for the EU because of its geopolitical position. Also, for international security, the region faces the Indian Ocean and is a gateway to the rest of Africa to this side.
To add to this, it is also very close to the Gulf countries. This geopolitical position is very important for African stability. Economically, it is important because it is highly populated with economic potential that has not been tapped, even though the region is making remarkable progress.
The EU is a good partner with a long tradition of development and have a strong interest in terms of investment. There are many European enterprises already present in the region and more interested in coming here to open do business.
You mentioned revising the Cotonou Agreement this year. What new areas of co-operation will be in the revised agreement?
The Cotonou Agreement is a general agreement that offers a framework of co-operation. The new one will probably have substantial differences because there will be specific strategies for Africa, Pacific and Caribbean countries. There will be stronger elements on political co-operation, and development.
This is an important year to the relations between Africa and the EU because in a few weeks the EU is expected to publish new strategy document of its relations with Africa and in October we are expected to hold an Africa-EU Summit in Brussels.
Lately relations between Tanzania and the EU have been challenged, particularly over human-rights concerns. Your predecessor was recalled to Brussels and the EU said reconsidering its relations with Tanzania. How far have the fences been mended?
It is true that there have been moments of slowdown of relations between the EU and Tanzania. That coincided also with the departure of my predecessor in 2018. Since then there have been a process of reviewing our relations.
The conclusion of the internal review is that Tanzania is an important partner to the EU and that we need stronger and mutually satisfactory relations. We are ready to re-engage with Tanzania in a constructive manner. That Tanzania has accepted my appointment shows that there are a new relations. Today there is a new Tanzania ambassador in Brussels accredited to the EU.
Coming specifically to the point of human rights and democracy, Article 9 of the Cotonou Agreement is very clear about the importance of human rights, the rule of law and democracy. We expect all our partners will comply with that Article.
Even as Tanzania and the EU mend fences, what is your assessment of human-rights, democracy and the rule of law in the country?
The implementation of human-rights and democracy is a continuous process. It is not something that you achieve overnight. What is important is that you have a positive trend towards human-rights and democracy. We must accept that in various parts of the world, there are different traditions and political realities. What is important is that the trend is going in the right direction.
Tanzania is rigorously reforming the mining sector, banking and resource management in general. What is you take on that?
The Government is very serious in reforming the economy, which is a good thing. This will reduce donor dependency and increased contribution to the budget.
The important question to be addressed is the way these reforms are done. If you wish to attract foreign investment and promote business it is important that investors find a clear and stable legal framework.
The majority of business people are entrepreneurs who come to work here and are ready to comply with the rules of the country but they need to be sure of what to expect. That is the issue of predictability of policy.

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