Perspektiven für den Beitritt Kap Verdes als Mitglied zur Europäischen Union

Cape Verde is an archipelago of 10 islands located off the west coast of the African continent. It enjoys a particularly advantageous geography, as it lies at the crossroads of Europe, Africa, and South America, being only about an hour from Dakar, around four hours from Fortaleza in Brazil, and Lisbon. The World Bank's Doing Business 2017 report ranks Cape Verde 129th out of 190 economies in terms of ease of doing business, with financing, taxation, and bureaucracy being the main obstacles for businesses. The country's greatest economic challenges remain its constant trade deficit and its dependence on European countries due to its poor natural resource base. As a result, the country is heavily reliant on imports of food, fuel, and machinery, making it vulnerable to external shocks. The economy is also characterized by high unemployment rates, low economic diversification, and rising public debt. This book explains the country's dependence on foreign aid and remittances and outlines the prospects for Cape Verde's accession as a member state of the European Union.