Gabriel Mato is committed to increasing trade relations with Africa in order to promote the continent's economic development

Gabriel Mato, MEP for the Popular Party, has called on the European Union to redouble trade relations with Africa, in order to generate greater economic development on the continent, but also to manage migratory flows, combat poverty and create employment.

Gabriel Mato stressed that Africa should be a priority continent for Europe because "we are only 14 kilometres apart and our interests are not only commercial and economic, but also political, migratory and security-related", and he emphasised that "in this new era in which we are rebuilding our relations with Africa, we started with the clear idea of establishing a positive agenda between the two blocs". 

As the European People's Party (EPP) Group's rapporteur for the own-initiative report on the future of EU-Africa trade relations, he pointed to the possibility of "redoubling our presence in African markets, which are among the most dynamic and with the greatest potential in the world". 

The MEP reaffirmed his commitment to a more ambitious and closer strategic partnership "on an equal footing", which would allow us to exert greater influence on the international stage, and in which the impact of trade and investment would allow us to combat poverty and create jobs. 

In his speech to the European Parliament's Committee on International Trade, at the public hearing where EU-Africa trade and investment relations were debated, Gabriel Mato also highlighted the continent's historical interests, natural attractions and the processes of demographic and economic development, in which the participation of European companies, and particularly Canary Islands companies, "should not be left out of these business opportunities", he said.

For this reason, he insisted on the need to pay attention to the promotion of intra-African trade and economic integration to avoid the fragmentation of markets, taking into account the great transformation that would occur if the presence of SMEs is also supported with more innovative financing instruments, facilitating and promoting private investment with the prospects offered by the digital economy, as well as attending to professional skills. 

Gabriel Mato's proposals also include adapting the projects of the Economic and Investment Plan of the New Agenda for the Mediterranean to the current emergency situation, as well as promoting trilateral public-private partnerships, which would make it possible to resolve, for example, in North Africa, differences and disputes that in some cases diplomacy and politics cannot achieve. 

Gabriel Mato concluded his speech by insisting on the need to intensify trade in goods and services with African countries, contributing to the economic development of the continent, but also to the management of migratory flows.

The MEP stressed that "it will not be an easy road, as Africa must undertake structural reforms with stable institutional frameworks and security in all senses: regulatory frameworks for doing business, legal security and physical security".