Parting words from the EC’s outgoing Ambassador Brueser

THE outgoing ambassador of the European Commission, Dr Antonius Brueser, looks back on his four-year term in Namibia with great satisfaction and a feeling of accomplishment.

Brueser (56) hails from Germany and is an economist. He completed his Ph D in Economic and Social Affairs in 1976 and joined the European Commission (EC), the executive arm of the European Union (EU), at the young age of 29.Over the past 27 years, he has gained vast experience in the field of economic co-operation with developing countries.The Namibian interviewed Ambassador Brueser and discussed his experiences during his four years in Namibia.Development support of the European Commission (EC) for Namibia is centred on several pillars: poverty reduction through sustainable rural development, including land reform, education, conservation of the environment, tourism, gender mainstreaming and the fight against HIV-AIDS.Added to that, trade policy development also received substantial support.The focus of EC assistance between 2002 and 2007 is poverty reduction through rural development and human resources development.The overall indicative allocation for that period amounts to 94 million Euro, or about N$770 million.Since Independence in 1990, Namibia has received grants of more than N$1,6 billion from the EC, according to Ambassador Brueser.The implementation of development aid from the EC is, in all sectors, changing from the classical project approach to a sector-wide (as in agriculture or education) or budget approach.”We negotiate with the recipient government on principal sectors that need funding and the main priorities, like a certain number of new classrooms for schools.The Namibian Government decides for which schools the classrooms are built,” Brueser explains.”This shows how much the EC and other co-operation partners trust the Government to make the right decisions how to use the donor funds.Namibia has an excellent track record for making good use of development co-operation funds,” Brueser comments.”But this requires careful planning in the medium and long term and setting priorities right, like deciding where new roads should be constructed or tarred in order to open up remote rural areas for economic opportunities, tourism or other investment.”However, budget priorities need to be clear and explained to the development partners – for instance, why the defence sector has received a higher budget allocation in the past few years than other ministries.”If the development partners gain a proper understanding of such criteria, this can siphon private foreign investment as well.On the side of the European Commission, less red tape and simpler tender procedures would shorten the periods between the drawing board and the actual implication,” the diplomat admits frankly, “but the colleagues in Brussels are working on that.It takes considerable time and money for companies when submitting a tender for EC projects in general and also in Namibia.I know of some companies which don’t even want to tender anymore because of the lengthy process involved.”LAND REFORM Asked about the land reform process, Brueser said the European Union was willing to support Namibia should this be requested, especially when it came to implementing the recommendations made at the end of 2004 by the Permanent Technical Team (PTT) on land reform, which were made public last week.Brueser commended Namibia for applying the law with regard to land expropriation with fair compensation.So far, three farms have been expropriated in Namibia.”The Government has repeatedly assured that it would stick to the letter and spirit of the laws and the Constitution, and President Hifikepunye Pohamba reiterated this stance when he took over the Government,” says Brueser.”This is very assuring – even if the land reform does not go as fast as some people would like it to.It would, however, be good if the Government made the criteria for example for land expropriation clear, since the lack of them is a matter of concern for farmers and potential investors to Namibia in general,” Brueser says.”A lot of people in Europe unfortunately think of the fast-track land reform in Zimbabwe when they hear the word ‘land expropriation’.”Agricultural training of newly resettled beneficiaries is very important, like livestock management, mechanical skills and bookkeeping.”According to the EC Ambassador, a joint training programme for resettled and emerging farmers has been proposed by the Namibia National Farmers’ Union (NNFU), which represents communal farmers, together with the Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU), the umbrella body for commercial farmers.”Their submission was handed to the National Planning Commission (NPC) recently, which co-ordinates development co-operation projects between the Government and donors.The decision is expected next month and we are very positive that the training project will be accepted.”Under the Rural Poverty Reduction Programme in Namibia, the EU makes 53 million euros available and 15 million of that amount has been earmarked for demand-driven projects such as proposed training for new farmers.TRADE Namibia has made great strides with its involvement in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), Brueser says.The Secretariat of SACU is now housed in Windhoek and the EC has given substantial support and funding of about N$17 million for SACU.”We expect the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) negotiations for Southern Africa with the EU to be concluded by the middle or towards the end of 2007,” says Brueser.This could possibly lead to increasing Namibia’s beef export quota to EU countries under preferential tariffs.The beef quota now stands at 13 000 tonnes a year.”Namibia does not yet manage to export the full quota of beef to the EU, but with concerted efforts the agricultural sector might increase its production,” the diplomat says.”Interestingly, Namibia exports almost as much tonnage of table grapes to the EU as beef – between 8 000 and 9 000 tonnes per annum,” says Brueser, “but only 900 tonnes fall under a preferential tariff.”TOURISM The EC has funded a foreign expert for several years to serve the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET) with regard to capacity building and planning.Several studies were commissioned and co-funded to map out Namibia’s tourism and conservation of the environment.”The Government understands how important it is to conserve the environment, but I am not sure if the conservation and environmental aspects outlined by the MET are correctly being taken into account when it comes to decisions on projects,” Brueser remarks.”Namibia’s wide open spaces have a rare scenic beauty.It enables the individual tourist to travel the country not in a large bus with 50 others but to hire a small car with camping gear and to explore the diverse landscapes safe and unharmed.The crime rate is minimal compared to the rest of Africa – this is very, very special,” according to the diplomat, who has travelled with his wife Annette more than 100 000 kilometres on private tours in the country.”Tourism is an important industry here and it has room for expansion, and I am happy that the Government has opted to stay clear of mass tourism but rather promotes individual travel and small groups.”Brueser praises Government for its recent partnership policy with civil society.A study resulted in the formulation of an official policy, which was launched in June this year.The National Planning Commission will be the Government institution that will co-operate with non-governmental and civil organisations.”They can reach where Government does not, either due to lack of capacity or funds,” says Ambassador Brueser.”Especially with regard to HIV-AIDS, civil organisations and NGOs can complement Government’s fight against the scourge.An improved co-ordination between donors, NGOs and Government in the fight against AIDS would even enhance Namibia’s very good efforts,” Brueser recommends.NAMIBIA’S FUTURE On the question what wish he had for Namibia’s future, Brueser spontaneously says: “That th
e country can keep the peace and tranquillity it has enjoyed for the past 16 years and that the Government will continue to steer a determined yet careful course for the whole population – not (serving) individual groups.”He would also like to see improved communication infrastructure in Namibia to promote regional integration.”Here the EC has not succeeded to support the transport sector, like the Trans-Caprivi and Trans-Kalahari Corridors, as much as we wanted to, but that could be a task for my successor,” the diplomat reflects.Brueser also hopes for stronger opposition parties in the political arena.”Any government needs a vibrant opposition.”But Brueser, who will move back to Brussels next month, also observes that come 2009 and beyond, when the first generation of the country’s political leaders reach retirement age, the younger ones should be ready to serve the country.”Those who are between 40 and 50 years old have not come visibly to the foreground yet.I hope that this will change in the near future,” he concludes.A German national is to succeed Brueser in Windhoek – the first female ambassador sent by Brussels to Namibia.He completed his Ph D in Economic and Social Affairs in 1976 and joined the European Commission (EC), the executive arm of the European Union (EU), at the young age of 29.Over the past 27 years, he has gained vast experience in the field of economic co-operation with developing countries.The Namibian interviewed Ambassador Brueser and discussed his experiences during his four years in Namibia.Development support of the European Commission (EC) for Namibia is centred on several pillars: poverty reduction through sustainable rural development, including land reform, education, conservation of the environment, tourism, gender mainstreaming and the fight against HIV-AIDS.Added to that, trade policy development also received substantial support.The focus of EC assistance between 2002 and 2007 is poverty reduction through rural development and human resources development.The overall indicative allocation for that period amounts to 94 million Euro, or about N$770 million.Since Independence in 1990, Namibia has received grants of more than N$1,6 billion from the EC, according to Ambassador Brueser.The implementation of development aid from the EC is, in all sectors, changing from the classical project approach to a sector-wide (as in agriculture or education) or budget approach.”We negotiate with the recipient government on principal sectors that need funding and the main priorities, like a certain number of new classrooms for schools.The Namibian Government decides for which schools the classrooms are built,” Brueser explains.”This shows how much the EC and other co-operation partners trust the Government to make the right decisions how to use the donor funds.Namibia has an excellent track record for making good use of development co-operation funds,” Brueser comments.”But this requires careful planning in the medium and long term and setting priorities right, like deciding where new roads should be constructed or tarred in order to open up remote rural areas for economic opportunities, tourism or other investment.”However, budget priorities need to be clear and explained to the development partners – for instance, why the defence sector has received a higher budget allocation in the past few years than other ministries.”If the development partners gain a proper understanding of such criteria, this can siphon private foreign investment as well.On the side of the European Commission, less red tape and simpler tender procedures would shorten the periods between the drawing board and the actual implication,” the diplomat admits frankly, “but the colleagues in Brussels are working on that.It takes considerable time and money for companies when submitting a tender for EC projects in general and also in Namibia.I know of some companies which don’t even want to tender anymore because of the lengthy process involved.”LAND REFORM Asked about the land reform process, Brueser said the European Union was willing to support Namibia should this be requested, especially when it came to implementing the recommendations made at the end of 2004 by the Permanent Technical Team (PTT) on land reform, which were made public last week.Brueser commended Namibia for applying the law with regard to land expropriation with fair compensation.So far, three farms have been expropriated in Namibia.”The Government has repeatedly assured that it would stick to the letter and spirit of the laws and the Constitution, and President Hifikepunye Pohamba reiterated this stance when he took over the Government,” says Brueser.”This is very assuring – even if the land reform does not go as fast as some people would like it to.It would, however, be good if the Government made the criteria for example for land expropriation clear, since the lack of them is a matter of concern for farmers and potential investors to Namibia in general,” Brueser says.”A lot of people in Europe unfortunately think of the fast-track land reform in Zimbabwe when they hear the word ‘land expropriation’.”Agricultural training of newly resettled beneficiaries is very important, like livestock management, mechanical skills and bookkeeping.”According to the EC Ambassador, a joint training programme for resettled and emerging farmers has been proposed by the Namibia National Farmers’ Union (NNFU), which represents communal farmers, together with the Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU), the umbrella body for commercial farmers.”Their submission was handed to the National Planning Commission (NPC) recently, which co-ordinates development co-operation projects between the Government and donors.The decision is expected next month and we are very positive that the training project will be accepted.”Under the Rural Poverty Reduction Programme in Namibia, the EU makes 53 million euros available and 15 million of that amount has been earmarked for demand-driven projects such as proposed training for new farmers.TRADE Namibia has made great strides with its involvement in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), Brueser says.The Secretariat of SACU is now housed in Windhoek and the EC has given substantial support and funding of about N$17 million for SACU.”We expect the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) negotiations for Southern Africa with the EU to be concluded by the middle or towards the end of 2007,” says Brueser.This could possibly lead to increasing Namibia’s beef export quota to EU countries under preferential tariffs.The beef quota now stands at 13 000 tonnes a year.”Namibia does not yet manage to export the full quota of beef to the EU, but with concerted efforts the agricultural sector might increase its production,” the diplomat says.”Interestingly, Namibia exports almost as much tonnage of table grapes to the EU as beef – between 8 000 and 9 000 tonnes per annum,” says Brueser, “but only 900 tonnes fall under a preferential tariff.” TOURISM The EC has funded a foreign expert for several years to serve the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET) with regard to capacity building and planning.Several studies were commissioned and co-funded to map out Namibia’s tourism and conservation of the environment.”The Government understands how important it is to conserve the environment, but I am not sure if the conservation and environmental aspects outlined by the MET are correctly being taken into account when it comes to decisions on projects,” Brueser remarks.”Namibia’s wide open spaces have a rare scenic beauty.It enables the individual tourist to travel the country not in a large bus with 50 others but to hire a small car with camping gear and to explore the diverse landscapes safe and unharmed.The crime rate is minimal compared to the rest of Africa – this is very, very special,” according to the diplomat, who has travelled with his wife Annette more than 100 000 kilometres on private tours in the country.”Tourism is an important industry here and it has room for expansion, and I am happy that the Government has opted to stay cle
ar of mass tourism but rather promotes individual travel and small groups.”Brueser praises Government for its recent partnership policy with civil society.A study resulted in the formulation of an official policy, which was launched in June this year.The National Planning Commission will be the Government institution that will co-operate with non-governmental and civil organisations.”They can reach where Government does not, either due to lack of capacity or funds,” says Ambassador Brueser.”Especially with regard to HIV-AIDS, civil organisations and NGOs can complement Government’s fight against the scourge.An improved co-ordination between donors, NGOs and Government in the fight against AIDS would even enhance Namibia’s very good efforts,” Brueser recommends.NAMIBIA’S FUTURE On the question what wish he had for Namibia’s future, Brueser spontaneously says: “That the country can keep the peace and tranquillity it has enjoyed for the past 16 years and that the Government will continue to steer a determined yet careful course for the whole population – not (serving) individual groups.”He would also like to see improved communication infrastructure in Namibia to promote regional integration.”Here the EC has not succeeded to support the transport sector, like the Trans-Caprivi and Trans-Kalahari Corridors, as much as we wanted to, but that could be a task for my successor,” the diplomat reflects.Brueser also hopes for stronger opposition parties in the political arena.”Any government needs a vibrant opposition.”But Brueser, who will move back to Brussels next month, also observes that come 2009 and beyond, when the first generation of the country’s political leaders reach retirement age, the younger ones should be ready to serve the country.”Those who are between 40 and 50 years old have not come visibly to the foreground yet.I hope that this will change in the near future,” he concludes.A German national is to succeed Brueser in Windhoek – the first female ambassador sent by Brussels to Namibia.