Europe at summit of two countries
3 December 2007
Pretoria - South African President Thabo Mbeki, supported by Foreign
Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, will join African and European Heads of State
and Government at the 2nd European Union (EU) - Africa Summit in Lisbon,
Portugal scheduled from Saturday, 8 to Sunday, 9 December 2007.
The summit will be preceded by the European Union â Africa Ministerial
meeting to which Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad will lead the South African
delegation in Sharm El-Sheik, Egypt from Tuesday, 4 to Wednesday, 5 December
2007.
President Mbeki will attend this summit within the context of South Africa's
priority to strengthen relations with the European Union with a view to the
consolidation of the African Agenda and meeting the objectives of New
Partnership for Africa's Development (Nepad).
For its part, South Africa in October this year finalised the South Africa -
European Union Strategic Partnership and participates in the EU's Trade and
Development Co-operation Agreement (TDCA).
The African continent also has strong relations with Europe. In this regard,
the EU is a major player in the development process of the African continent,
an increase in the number of external partners, the introduction of new
instruments and increased financial resources illustrate a vibrant contribution
towards a strategic partnership between the two vast continents.
The Africa - EU Strategic Partnership aims to reduce and eventually
eradicate poverty on the African continent through the support for sustainable
economic, social and environmental development, promotion of the gradual
integration of the developing countries into the world economy, sharing its own
(EU) experiences regarding regional integration and a determination to combat
inequality. The key focus will be on creating the necessary economic
environment for development.
It is expected that Heads of State and Government will endorse the Joint
Africa - EU Strategy at the summit. The strategy is based on four
pillars:
* peace and security,
* good governance and human rights,
* trade and regional integration,
* key development issues - focussing specifically on the Millennium Development
Goals (MDGs), development co-operation, human and social development, gender
equality, environmental sustainability and climate change, migration and
development, agriculture and food security, infrastructure, water and
sanitation, energy, development of knowledge-based societies, and cultural
co-operation.
Contact:
Ronnie Mamoepa
Cell: 082 990 4853
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
3 December 2007
Source: SAPA
