PARTNER OF EUROPE: A CURSE OR A BLESSING FOR FARMERS IN AFRICA?

PARTNER OF EUROPE: A CURSE OR A BLESSING FOR FARMERS IN AFRICA?

Drumsticks, milk powder and tins of tomato purée: cheap products from the European Union that –to the horror of local producers- find their way to markets in developing countries. And if the EU gets its way, it doesn’t stop there. Since 2001 the EU is negotiating –the motto is: no aid but trade- with 76 developing countries about extended free trade treaties. These so called Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) are increasingly subject to criticism. Open borders also mean more competition. How will small farmers in developing countries be able to compete with large-scale and in some cases subsidized farmers in the European Union? How can the idea of partnership be given meaning between such unequal players?

On Thursday 23th of April these questions will hopefully be answered at a conference in Nijmegen, the Netherlands. In the Cultural Centre Lux speakers from Africa and the Europarliament will give their point of view on EPAs.

Speakers
George Osei-Bimpeh – lobbyist for small farmers in Ghana

Harruna Alhaji Ibraimah – village eldest and producer of rice and tomatoes in Ghana

Patrick Byaruhanga – dairy farmer in Uganda
Geoffrey Bakunda – political analyst in Uganda
Representative of the Europarliament
Stefan Verwer – panel chairman

For the purpose of illustration and learning Theater Pluim will perform a theatre play of 15 minutes called GREK and GRIP save the Universe. In this play Euripians, Caribions, Pacificons and Africonians are called upon to open the gates of their planets for the products of each other. There is however a snake in the grass...

Entrance is for free
Tickets at the cash desk in Lux in Nijmegen or +31 900 5894636
Date: 23 April
Start: 19.30 hours

The speakers from Africa will also participate in a debat at 25th of April in The Hague at the National Africa Day of the Evert Vermeer Foundation