Africa-Press – Angola. Around 2,000 delegates, including heads of state and government, as well as representatives of multilateral organizations, will participate in the 7th African Union (AU)-European Union (EU) summit.
Speaking at the event’s launch conference, Jorge Cardoso, the Director for Africa and the Middle East of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the aim is to amplify the voice of Africa and defend its interests in the international context, which is currently marked by the threat of multilateralism.
Cardoso said that at least 49 African states and 27 European states, as well as economic communities and regional mechanisms from both continents, will participate. Representatives from subsidiary UN bodies, the Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), António Guterres, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, will also be present.
The event’s spokesperson said the summit will assess the progress of AU-EU relations and establish a foundation for strengthening cooperation over the next three years.
The spokesperson added that, in parallel to the summit, the Forum on Youth and Civil Society and the AU-EU Business Forum are planned for the first time.
Rosaria Pais, the European Union Ambassador to Angola, identified economic diversification, job creation for young people and women, human development, and governance as the bloc’s priorities throughout the summit.
She said that the Global Gateway investment package for infrastructure in Angola, regional peace and security, and economic integration will be reviewed.
Meanwhile, Jerónimo Pongolola, the administrator of the Angolan Agency for Private Investment and Export Promotion (AIPEX), said the Business Forum expects to bring together 600 people and will feature high-level panels on financing, transport, logistics, and other topics.
Dalila Bragança, the Secretary of State for Youth, explained that the Forum on Youth and Civil Society will address the skills and abilities to be developed within the youth population to enable them to contribute to their countries’ development.
These discussions will result in a report that will enable concrete initiatives.
The first African Union-European Union summit took place in Cairo, Egypt, in 2000.
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