The success of the European Union in forging integration in that continent should serve as a good example for efforts to form the same in the Africa.
This was said by Minister Susan Shabangu at the celebrations of Europe Day in Pretoria yesterday.
“South Africa marvels at the gains that the European Union is continuing to score in its quest for a united Europe in spite of the challenges of the global financial crisis and so on.
“We will continue to take examples of good practice in your unity efforts and translate them to our efforts in the African Union, the Southern African Development Community and the Southern African Customs Union,” she said.
South Africa will be hosting the COP17 later in Durban later this year and the minister expressed hope that the “partnership with our friends in the European Union” will contribute towards making it a success for the benefit all of humanity for generations to come.
“It is no secret that Africa is expected to experience the impact of global warming more severely than any other continent. We therefore hope that hosting the negotiations in Africa will further motivate developed and developing economies to speak with one voice and one concern.
“South Africa truly appreciates that the European Union is willing to support a second round of commitments under the current Kyoto protocol encouraging all major emitters to take on their fair share of the global emission reduction effort.
“We would like to urge the European Union to remain faithful to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) negotiating process and create the agreed framework through which the priority of funding and support can be appropriately shared between adaptation and mitigation,” she said.
South Africa would also like to make an undertaking towards focusing the COP 17 to look into new ways of utilizing renewable energy and well as bring development and the building of a green economy together. “As a significant mining jurisdiction, we appreciate that development can come at a cost and that every effort needs to be expended in developing and utilising alternative energy,” she said.
The partnership with the EU also extended to trade through the Trade, Development and Cooperation Agreement (TDCA) between South Africa and the European Union which is now in its eleventh year.
The TDCA was a cornerstone of the country’s relationship and an important stepping stone for the eventual establishment of the SA-EU Strategic Partnership and the adoption of its Joint Action Plan in May 2007, she said.
In conclusion, the minister said: We also look forward to the 11th Ministerial Political Dialogue, as well as the 12th SA-EU Joint Cooperation Council meeting in 2011, and are also jointly already planning for the 4th SA-EU Summit during the 2nd half of 2011 and congratulate the EU on achieving this milestone of celebrating the 61st Europe Day today./Ends
For more information:
Musa Zondi
Cell: 082 747 6412.
