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LIBYAN LEADER Muammar Gadafy has a vision for a United States of Africa. Even if it is far from realisation, he managed to convince leaders of the African Union, meeting at a summit in his birthplace Sirte, that they should aim to co-ordinate policies on defence, security and trade negotiations. Although it is vague and aspirational, lacks executive authority and must be ratified by national parliaments this commitment does register a welcome desire to work more closely together.

The African Union was founded in 2002, taking over from the Organisation of African Unity. Some of its leading figures, including Mr Gadafy, have been influenced by the European Union’s structures and policies. But in truth it is a very different organisation. There is nothing to compare with the EU’s independent commission, majority voting council of ministers and directly-elected parliament. Nor are the competences in any way comparable, given the detailed divisions of labour between national and supranational levels spelled out in successive EU treaties. Rather is the AU an inter-governmental regional organisation dealing with continental problems.