First paragraph: In the flood of debate and opinion which followed the UK’s Brexit referendum, journalists and scholars alike have focused on the economic impact on Britain, the future of trade agreements and the effect on the rest of the EU. With a few exceptions, implications outside of Europe are often ignored. Africa barely gets a look in, but the shockwaves here could be deeply damaging.https://theconversation.com/brexit-will-blow-a-hole-in-eu-africa-relations-6592

Ansorg, Nadine

Haastrup, Toni

English

First paragraph: In the flood of debate and opinion which followed the UK’s Brexit referendum, journalists and scholars alike have focused on the economic impact on Britain, the future of trade agreements and the effect on the rest of the EU. With a few exceptions, implications outside of Europe are often ignored. Africa barely gets a look in, but the shockwaves here could be deeply damaging

Stirling Online Research Repository (RIOXX)

AuthorsToni Haastrup Lecturer in International Security, University of Kent Nadine Ansorg Research Fellow, German Institute of Global and Area Studies Academic rigour, journalistic flair In the flood of debate and opinion which followed the UK’s Brexit referendum, journalists and scholars alike have focused on the economic impact on Britain, the future of trade agreements and the effect on the rest of the EU. With a few exceptions, implications outside of Europe are often ignored. Africa barely gets a look in, but the shockwaves here could be deeply damaging. Clearly, the economic and aid implications matter, as we and others have pointed out. Here, however, we want to examine the socio-political and diplomatic dimensions beyond Europe of what is a seemingly European decision. This is especially important given the broad range and nature of Africa-EU relations. Both in the trade negotiations that have led to EU economic partnership agreements(EPAs) with Africa, but especially in the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), the UK has often played the role of an advocate, at least rhetorically. For example, although the British government always supported the controversial EPAs, it also argued that the EU should give compensation to those countries that lose out due to new modes of cooperation. Emma Line/Flickr, CC BY-NC-SABrexit will blow a hole in EU-Africa relations September 29, 2016 5.07pm BSTPage 1 of 4Brexit will blow a hole in EU-Africa relations04/07/2019https://theconversation.com/brexit-will-blow-a-hole-in-eu-africa-relations-65925Similarly, the UK has in recent years been the strongest voice for reform of the CAP. As European fisheries and farmers have been subsidised through the CAP, to the disadvantage of African farmers, reform is essential. Other European countries have been reluctant to commit to it.There is legitimate concern that with the UK gone, certain diplomatic avenues will be closed. For African countries, the UK’s departure from the EU signals the loss of an advocate within the EU.Peace and securityPolitically, Brexit affects African countries in a variety of ways. Importantly, however, its potential effects on peace and security have not really been addressed.Overall, the EU is the main contributor to the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA). Within it, the UK has been particularly instrumental in its support for peace operations on the continent. In Somalia, for example, where the EU supports the African Union mission, the UK has played a role as financial contributor as well as a key partner within the EU Training Mission in Somalia.Given the unique role of this training mission in rebuilding a Somali army, the UK’s absence will be a big loss as one of the top contributors. The uncertainty around continued contributions, or how it will now work, further fragments donor coordination in the country. Moreover, it adds unnecessary administrative costs for the African Union and Somalia in negotiating new agreements for UK and EU engagement. Farm fears. CIAT/Flickr, CC BY-SAPage 2 of 4Brexit will blow a hole in EU-Africa relations04/07/2019https://theconversation.com/brexit-will-blow-a-hole-in-eu-africa-relations-65925Brexit also has implications for the broader direction of the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) missions, the majority of which take place in Africa. Within the CSDP, the UK has always been a strong backer of prioritising peacebuilding and conflict prevention. This is in contrast to the French approach of a stronger military focus as the main peace and security practice. The withdrawal of the UK might thus translate into an identity change for the EU’s security architecture and its security practices in Africa, especially if France fully reasserts dominance. Integration trendsThere are broader implications of the UK vote, too. Brexit fundamentally calls into question the EU’s credibility as a promoter of regional integration. Although not a replica of the EU, the African Union, Africa’s continental regional organisation, views the EU as a successful vision that reflects some of its own aspirations. There are no signs yet of deceleration in Africa’s regional integration processes, but the fallout from Brexit will provide a teaching moment for Africans. It serves to highlight what is at stake in regional integration – and the negative consequences of disintegration. Brexit has already provided an opportunity for African politicians and bureaucrats to press for the advantages of regional integrationmore vigorously.Somali soldiers at a passing out parade after training. AMISOM Public Information/FlickrPage 3 of 4Brexit will blow a hole in EU-Africa relations04/07/2019https://theconversation.com/brexit-will-blow-a-hole-in-eu-africa-relations-65925Diplomacy Politics UK Europe Africa Somalia EU EU referendum Common Agricultural PolicyAfrican Union Brexit CAPAnd in the background to these diplomatic, political and strategic considerations there lies something ugly in the social impact of the referendum process and its aftermath. The documented hate crimes following the vote echo negative attitudes to the refugee crisis, with Brexit helping to set the tone for narratives of the UK and EU’s relationship with and in the world. An idea emerged during campaigning of the “British” – represented predominantly as white, Northern Europeans – being against those presented otherwise as “immigrants”. And it’s not just in the UK. The Brexit vote has heightened tensions around how Europe as a whole treats its diaspora residents. This of course comes off the back of problems with the EU’s approach to African migrants and the countries from which they arrive. The EU tends to focus on migrants from the Middle East as more deserving of consideration for asylum. Moreover, it has invested more to transit countries like Turkey than Morocco, for example. Brexit has helped lend political legitimacy to anti-migrant rhetoric, allowing existing tensions to be exacerbated in Africa-EU relations, but also in the everyday lives of individuals living and working in the UK and the rest of Europe.For the most part, the EU has ignored the non-economic implications of Brexit outside of Europe, perhaps for understandable reasons. But given its implications for Africa, this could be a mistake. The UK’s absence from EU political and social engagement with Africa will definitely change its tone and strategy. The fear must be that the EU fails to acknowledge this and misses an opportunity to create a new positive orientation of the relationship.The African Union has much to learn from EU woes. Huebi/FlickrPage 4 of 4Brexit will blow a hole in EU-Africa relations04/07/2019https://theconversation.com/brexit-will-blow-a-hole-in-eu-africa-relations-65925

Brexit will blow a hole in EU-Africa relations

In the flood of debate and opinion which followed the UK's Brexit referendum, journalists and scholars alike have focused on the economic impact on Britain, the future of trade agreements and the effect on the rest of the EU. With a few exceptions, implications outside of Europe are often ignored. Africa barely gets a look in, but the shockwaves here could be deeply damaging.
Clearly, the economic and aid implications matter, as we and others have pointed out. Here, however, we want to examine the socio-political and diplomatic dimensions beyond Europe of what is a seemingly European decision. This is especially important given the broad range and nature of Africa-EU relations.
Both in the trade negotiations that have led to EU economic partnership agreements (EPAs) with Africa, but especially in the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), the UK has often played the role of an advocate, at least rhetorically. For example, although the British government always supported the controversial EPAs, it also argued that the EU should give compensation to those countries that lose out due to new modes of cooperation.
Similarly, the UK has in recent years been the strongest voice for reform of the CAP. As European fisheries and farmers have been subsidised through the CAP, to the disadvantage of African farmers, reform is essential. Other European countries have been reluctant to commit to it.
There is legitimate concern that with the UK gone, certain diplomatic avenues will be closed. For African countries, the UK's departure from the EU signals the loss of an advocate within the EU

SSOAR - Social Science Open Access Repository 

www.ssoar.infoBrexit will blow a hole in EU-Africa relationsHaastrup, Toni; Ansorg, NadineVeröffentlichungsversion / Published VersionStellungnahme / commentZur Verfügung gestellt in Kooperation mit / provided in cooperation with:GIGA German Institute of Global and Area StudiesEmpfohlene Zitierung / Suggested Citation:Haastrup, T., & Ansorg, N. (2016). Brexit will blow a hole in EU-Africa relations.. London: The Conversation Trust.https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:0168-ssoar-55558-2Nutzungsbedingungen:Dieser Text wird unter einer CC BY-ND Lizenz (Namensnennung-Keine Bearbeitung) zur Verfügung gestellt. Nähere Auskünfte zuden CC-Lizenzen finden Sie hier:https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/deed.deTerms of use:This document is made available under a CC BY-ND Licence(Attribution-NoDerivatives). For more Information see:https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0https://theconversation.com/brexit-will-blow-a-hole-in-eu-africa-relations-65925 1/4AuthorsToni HaastrupLecturer in International Security,Univ ersity  of  KentNadine AnsorgResearch Fellow, German Institute ofGlobal and Area StudiesAcademic rigour, journalistic flairIn the flood of debate and opinion which followed the UK’s Brexit referendum,journalists and scholars alike have focused on the economic impact on Britain,the future of trade agreements and the effect on the rest of the EU. With a few exceptions, implications outside of Europe are often ignored. Africa barely  gets alook in, but the shockwaves here could be deeply  damaging.Clearly , the economic and aid implications matter, as we and others have pointed out. Here, however, we want to examine the socio-political and diplomaticdimensions beyond Europe of what is a seemingly  European decision. This isespecially  important given the broad range and nature of Africa-EU relations.Both in the trade negotiations that have led to EU economic partnership agreements (EPAs) with Africa, but especially  in the Common Agricultural Policy(CAP), the UK has often played the role of an advocate, at least rhetorically . Forexample, although the British government always supported the controversialEPAs, it also argued that the EU should give compensation to those countries thatlose out due to new modes of cooperation.Emma Line/Flickr, CC BY-NC-SASeptember 29, 2016 5.07pm BSTBrexit will blow a hole in EU-Africa relationshttps://theconversation.com/brexit-will-blow-a-hole-in-eu-africa-relations-65925 2/4Similarly , the UK has in recent years been the strongest voice for reform of the CAP. As Europeanfisheries and farmers have been subsidised through the CAP, to the disadvantage of Africanfarmers, reform is essential. Other European countries have been reluctant to commit to it.There is legitimate concern that with the UK gone, certain diplomatic avenues will be closed. ForAfrican countries, the UK’s departure from the EU signals the loss of an advocate within the EU.Peace and securityPolitically , Brexit affects African countries in a variety  of ways. Importantly , however, itspotential effects on peace and security  have not really  been addressed.Overall, the EU is the main contributor to the African Peace and Security  Architecture (APSA).Within it, the UK has been particularly  instrumental in its support for peace operations on thecontinent. In Somalia, for example, where the EU supports the African Union mission, the UK hasplayed a role as financial contributor as well as a key  partner within the EU Training Mission in Somalia.Given the unique role of this training mission in rebuilding a Somali army, the UK’s absence willbe a big loss as one of the top contributors. The uncertainty  around continued contributions, orhow it will now work, further fragments donor coordination in the country. Moreover, it addsunnecessary  administrative costs for the African Union and Somalia in negotiating newagreements for UK and EU engagement.Farm fears. CIAT/Flickr, CC BY-SAhttps://theconversation.com/brexit-will-blow-a-hole-in-eu-africa-relations-65925 3/4Brexit also has implications for the broader direction of the EU’s Common Security  and Defence Policy  (CSDP) missions, the majority  of which take place in Africa. Within the CSDP, the UK hasalways been a strong backer of prioritising peacebuilding and conflict prevention. This is incontrast to the French approach of a stronger military  focus as the main peace and securitypractice. The withdrawal of the UK might thus translate into an identity  change for the EU’ssecurity  architecture and its security  practices in Africa, especially  if France fully  reassertsdominance.Integration trendsThere are broader implications of the UK vote, too. Brexit fundamentally  calls into question theEU’s credibility  as a promoter of regional integration. Although not a replica of the EU, the African Union, Africa’s continental regional organisation, views the EU as a successful vision thatreflects some of its own aspirations.There are no signs yet of deceleration in Africa’s regional integration processes, but the falloutfrom Brexit will provide a teaching moment for Africans. It serves to highlight what is at stake inregional integration – and the negative consequences of disintegration. Brexit has alreadyprovided an opportunity  for African politicians and bureaucrats to press for the advantages of regional integration more vigorously .Somali soldiers at a passing out parade after training. AMISOM Public Information/Flickrhttps://theconversation.com/brexit-will-blow-a-hole-in-eu-africa-relations-65925 4/4Diplomacy Politics UK Europe Africa Somalia EU EU referendum Common Agricultural PolicyAfrican Union Brexit CAPAnd in the background to these diplomatic, political and strategic considerations there lies something ugly  in the social impact of the referendum process and its aftermath. Thedocumented hate crimes following the vote echo negative attitudes to the refugee crisis, withBrexit helping to set the tone for narratives of the UK and EU’s relationship with and in the world.An idea emerged during campaigning of the “British” – represented predominantly  as white,Northern Europeans – being against those presented otherwise as “immigrants”. And it’s not justin the UK. The Brexit vote has heightened tensions around how Europe as a whole treats itsdiaspora residents.This of course comes off the back of problems with the EU’s approach to African migrants and the countries from which they arrive. The EU tends to focus on migrants from the Middle East asmore deserving of consideration for asylum. Moreover, it has invested more to transit countrieslike Turkey than Morocco, for example. Brexit has helped lend political legitimacy to anti-migrant rhetoric, allowing existing tensions to be exacerbated in Africa-EU relations, but also inthe everyday lives of individuals living and working in the UK and the rest of Europe.For the most part, the EU has ignored the non-economic implications of Brexit outside of Europe,perhaps for understandable reasons. But given its implications for Africa, this could be a mistake.The UK’s absence from EU political and social engagement with Africa will definitely  change itstone and strategy. The fear must be that the EU fails to acknowledge this and misses anopportunity  to create a new positive orientation of the relationship.   The African Union has much to learn from EU woes. Huebi/Flickr 

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Brexit will blow a hole in EU-Africa relations

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