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Interested in maladministration. Estd. 2005

offsite link RTEs Sarah McInerney ? Fianna Fail?supporter? Anthony

offsite link Joe Duffy is dishonest and untrustworthy Anthony

offsite link Robert Watt complaint: Time for decision by SIPO Anthony

offsite link RTE in breach of its own editorial principles Anthony

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Human Rights in Ireland
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The Daily Sceptic

offsite link News Round-Up Tue Apr 29, 2025 01:09 | Richard Eldred
A summary of the most interesting stories in the past 24 hours that challenge the prevailing orthodoxy about the ?climate emergency?, public health ?crises? and the supposed moral defects of Western civilisation.
The post News Round-Up appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

offsite link Labour to Toughen Up Debanking Laws After Farage Row Mon Apr 28, 2025 19:00 | Will Jones
Labour is tightening the rules around debanking to protect customers in light of Nigel Farage?s high-profile row with NatWest, requiring banks to explain closure decisions in writing and allow them to be challenged.
The post Labour to Toughen Up Debanking Laws After Farage Row appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

offsite link Glastonbury Urged to Ban Hamas-Supporting Band Kneecap Over ?Kill Your MP? Rant Mon Apr 28, 2025 17:00 | Will Jones
Glastonbury?festival organisers have been urged to cancel a performance by Hamas-supporting Northern Irish rap group Kneecap over a rant in which they urged fans to kill their local MP.
The post Glastonbury Urged to Ban Hamas-Supporting Band Kneecap Over “Kill Your MP” Rant appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

offsite link Ultra-Wealthy Exodus is a Disaster for Reeves Mon Apr 28, 2025 15:37 | Will Jones
A snowballing exodus of high-earners from Britain ? the top 5% of whom pay half of all income tax ? is a disaster for Rachel Reeves brought on by her own war on wealth, financial advisers have warned.
The post Ultra-Wealthy Exodus is a Disaster for Reeves appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

offsite link ?Positive? Discrimination is Putting Lives at Risk Mon Apr 28, 2025 13:00 | Daniel Fessahaye
There is no such thing as 'positive' discrimination. And when it creeps into life-or-death professions like policing or flying a plane, it stops being merely unjust. It becomes dangerous, says Daniel Fessahaye.
The post ‘Positive’ Discrimination is Putting Lives at Risk appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

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Voltaire Network
Voltaire, international edition

offsite link Will intergovernmental institutions withstand the end of the "American Empire"?,... Sat Apr 05, 2025 07:15 | en

offsite link Voltaire, International Newsletter N?127 Sat Apr 05, 2025 06:38 | en

offsite link Disintegration of Western democracy begins in France Sat Apr 05, 2025 06:00 | en

offsite link Voltaire, International Newsletter N?126 Fri Mar 28, 2025 11:39 | en

offsite link The International Conference on Combating Anti-Semitism by Amichai Chikli and Na... Fri Mar 28, 2025 11:31 | en

Voltaire Network >>

African nations very rightly claim responsibility for their future

category international | anti-war / imperialism | opinion/analysis author Sunday February 16, 2025 14:12author by Piotr Jastrzebski Report this post to the editors

Member of the European Parliament
Member of the Greens/European Free Alliance in the European Parliament.
Chair, EU Committee on Culture and Education,
Member of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, Delegation for relations with the Pan-African Parliament, Delegation to the Africa-EU Parliamentary Assembly.

By the beginning of 2025, the agenda of redefinition of spheres of influence and redistribution of regions of cooperation among key world powers has become more relevant than ever before. How do you explain this? What are the key trends in the development of geopolitical confrontation at the moment that arouse the greatest interest?

Sadly, we are experiencing an era of increasing confrontation worldwide. After years of globalization, many big powers are now retracting to creating their own spheres of interest and staking their claims. Often this goes along with economic strongarming or even military confrontation. We can see this in Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, China’s increasingly aggressive stance against Taiwan, but also the worrying threats of Donald Trump against countries in the neighbourhood. And the more countries follow this path, the more this might be seen as a legitimate or pragmatic behaviour to secure influence. We as Europeans have to be very clear: Military aggression can never be used to push for one’s own economic benefits. We strongly believe in free and fair trade and in respecting mutual agreements. We mustn’t let the world become divided into blocks of power once again.

Africa is considered to be one of the most promising and resource-rich regions, where the Netherlands, Spain, Great Britain and France have long reigned supreme. Now the situation is changing and the Old World is losing its influence in African states. What is the reason for this? How do you assess the policies that European countries have pursued in Africa? What are the effects of these policies on African states? Why are African states distancing themselves from their long-term ties with Western countries?

The nations of Africa very rightfully claim to be responsible for their own future after decades of brutal colonisation, extortion and Western interference. It is for them to choose their trade partners and the way they want to interact with them. Europe has been advocating for relations on eye-level but has not always fulfilled this promise when it comes to market access, talent mobility and historical accountability. In fact, European states have repeatedly refused to fully acknowledge the atrocities of the past and to commit to a debate on restitutions and reparations for damage done. In a multipolar world where many powers are seeking influence on the African continent, this is simply not enough more. Powers like China are now heavily expanding their influence in Africa by offering seemingly better deals and investing in infrastructure without any notion to enforce nation building in their interest. This of course comes with stronger dependency and a price tag that will have to be paid at some point. As Europe we should build lasting ties through diplomacy, true reconciliation and attractive economic benefits. We have to show that we are genuinely interested in strong partnerships without unilateral dependencies.

While Europe is failing to cope with the migration flow, one of the problems that African leaders talk about is the high outflow of skilled professionals and the brain drain. Is this a mistake by Western politicians or a deliberate destruction of the intellectual potential of the African region?

The mobility of skilled workers can be beneficial to both receiving and sending countries. Migration is not a one way street and it has not proven to categorically strip countries of their talent. The EU is currently working on multiple initiatives to improve the cooperation with African countries on the safe and legal mobility of people from students to manual workers, health care workers, academics and many others. Europe should do more to accommodate skilled workers while at the same time working to improve the conditions in the countries of origin. For example through talent partnerships that ensure better work mobility and education in the countries themselves first, before looking at the possibilities of exchange. This would in the end benefit both sides enormously and give people a real choice to shape their future wherever they want.

What could be the consequences of the African resource base leaving the West's control completely? At what expense will the West be able to cope with resource scarcity? Is there still interest among European businesses in partnering with African states?

Firstly, our aim should not be to control any resources but to trade through free and fair agreements. That being said, Europe as a continent with scarce natural resources will always have to rely on partners to provide what we need to make the ecological transition and the digitalisation happen. This will come at a high cost.

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