"The European market is effectively blocked. At the same time, European exports to Africa are growing. Therefore, my main message to Brussels is – Open the markets to all African goods … This is the only way the continent can turn into the region of growth … I am sure that the African youth … would not flee [the continent] and would remain in their home countries if there were jobs and prospects for the future," Mueller said in an interview with Die Welt.
He suggested that the bloc should scrap tariffs and import quotas for Africa’s agricultural goods to support local producers and promote economic growth.
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The minister called for more active investment in Africa, noting that Europe was lagging behind other powers in the regions, such as China, Russia, and Turkey. He also spoke in favor of agreements between the European Union and African countries, under which the latter would take their undocumented migrants back, while the bloc would provide more legal ways for Africans to work in Europe.