Africa-Press – Ghana. The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Member States of the European Union (EU) and the African Union (AU) have reaffirmed their commitment to the EU-AU Partnership.
This is based on shared values, mutual respect and interests, and its continued relevance and reliability, against the backdrop of shifting global dynamics, rising geopolitical tensions and geo-economic competition, instability and fragmentation, heightened conflict and deepening inequality.
In a joint communique issued after the 3rd EU-AU Ministerial Meeting held in Brussels said in the face of this evolving political and socio-economic environment, collaborative efforts to strengthen their Partnership to effectively deliver on their joint agenda were critical to address common priorities, mutual interests and promote and protect shared values, notably human rights as well as the security and prosperity of their citizens.
The meeting concluded by taking stock of progress on the Joint Vision for 2030 for a renewed Partnership, adopted at the 6th EU-AU Summit in 2022.
This Ministerial paved the way for the 7th AU-EU Summit, which will take place in Africa, in 2025, marking 25 years of partnership since the Cairo Summit in 2000.
The meeting was co-chaired by Ms Kaja Kallas, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, and Mr Téte António, Minister of External Relations of the Republic of Angola and Chairperson of the African Union Executive Council.
The Ministers celebrated that the relations had grown in depth, mutual ambition and political importance over the past 25 years.
It said the unique, strategic and mutual partnership, covering a large range of areas, involving all organs of both Unions, contributes directly to and aligns with the AU’s Agenda 2063 and the EU’s political priorities, consistent with their shared commitments to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement.
The Ministers noted that the EU-AU Partnership was overcoming past and current geopolitical challenges, demonstrating that their future lies in close cooperation and joint efforts to the mutual benefit of the people of Africa and Europe.
It said the Ministers welcomed the progress achieved in implementing the commitments that AU and EU Heads of State and Government laid down in the Joint Vision for 2030.
It said the Ministers decided to strengthen the follow-up mechanism, by ensuring complementarity at Ministerial and technical level.
The Ministers agreed to continue monitoring and taking stock of the implementation of mutually beneficial commitments taken in the context of the Joint Vision for 2030.
In this regard, Ministers agreed that the agenda and the programme of the 7th AU-EU Summit would include the review of progress made in the implementation of the commitments made in the Brussels declaration of the 6th EU-AU Summit held in 2022.
The Ministers said they were working on shared interests for the common good of the people of the two continents, adding that their two Unions align on a shared vision and dedicate themselves to building a common future.
“Together, the European Union and the African Union represent and carry the voices, hopes and dreams of more than 1.9 billion people,” the Ministers added.
They agreed that the meeting offered the opportunity to discuss how to continue to bring their economies and their peoples closer for the benefit of both continents, and to identify areas where they need to deepen, their cooperation, by leveraging on the Global Gateway agenda, to scale-up global connectivity, and promote sustainable development and investment in Africa.
The Ministers reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to act in accordance with international law, with the Charter of the United Nations and its Purposes and Principles at its core.
They reaffirmed their collective commitment to tackle all root causes of conflict and crisis, including all human rights violations, such as genocide and incitement to discrimination, hostility and violence as well as hate speech.
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