Africa-Press – Angola. The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) and the European Parliament (EP) adopted a joint declaration on Monday, in Luanda, aimed at strengthening the partnership between the African Union (AU) and the European Union (EU).
The information was provided at a press conference by the President of the PAP, Fortune Zephania Charumbira, on the sidelines of the 7th AU-EU Summit.
According to the official, this is the first time that the two parliaments hold a large-scale joint press conference, a fact that reinforces the role of parliamentary institutions in overseeing and implementing the commitments made by the two blocs.
Charumbira stressed that the meeting reflects 25 years of partnership between the continents, highlighting the importance of ensuring historical justice and equity in post-colonial relations.
“There has been a perception, since post-colonial times, that our relations with Europe have often been unequal. Now we recognize the need to work as equals and share efforts for mutual development,” he stated.
During the conference, the parliamentary leader addressed critical peace and security issues, emphasizing the conflicts in Rwanda/Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, the Sahel, Palestine, and the importance of dialogue for the peaceful resolution of the war between Russia and Ukraine.
He also reinforced the commitment to inclusive solutions, transparent funding for peace initiatives, and the active involvement of citizens in monitoring international policies.
In addition, he highlighted the need for strategic investments in the economic development of the African continent, including industrialization, processing of critical minerals, job creation, and support for the private sector.
“If we do not invest in children and economic opportunities, we will face serious difficulties in the future. We need to transform African resources into local value, generating jobs and sustainable development,” he emphasized.
The two parliaments also reaffirmed their commitment to parliamentary diplomacy, multilateralism, and international cooperation.
They stressed that they will play an active role in monitoring the implementation of the summit’s outcomes.
In turn, the Vice-President of the European Parliament, Younous Omarjee, stated that no lasting policy can be implemented without the full engagement of parliamentary institutions.
In this regard, he recalled that representatives of the EP and the PAP recently participated in an interparliamentary session in South Africa, with the aim of resuming and consolidating collaboration between the institutions.
According to Omarjee, this cooperation is essential not only for the development of joint policies, but also for legislative efficiency, considering that laws adopted on one continent can have an impact on the other.
He also highlighted the importance of the EP supporting the PAP, as European integration experiences can serve as a reference for African initiatives.
“Although models cannot be copied, we can offer mutual support and work together on the impacts of legislation,” he said.
“There is no horizon of progress without lasting peace,” he warned, recalling that both Europe and Africa face challenges that require international cooperation and responsibility.
The vice-president also drew attention to the African population growth, projected to reach around 4 billion inhabitants by the end of the century.
He stressed that the future of Europe is intrinsically linked to that of Africa, as is the need for more balanced and supportive trade.
For More News And Analysis About Angola Follow Africa-Press
