The relations between the European Union and the Republic of South Africa and an overall assessment of the situation in Africa were the key topics of the EU-South Africa ministerial meeting held on the 3rd of June 2008 in Slovenia.
The meeting, headed by the Slovenian Foreign Minister and current President of the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council, Dr Dimitrij Rupel, was also attended by the Commissioner Louis Michel on behalf of the European Commission and by a South African delegation headed by Dr Nkosazana Clarice Dlamini-Zuma, the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Representatives of the Council Secretariat and France, which will hold the next EU Presidency, also participated.
In his opening address, Dr Rupel pointed out that South Africa and the EU have adopted an action plan in May 2007, agreeing to develop a lasting relationship based on open and concrete dialogue conducted with mutual understanding and ownership of the process. It was also agreed that cooperation would be extended to new areas;. The 25 July Summit, organised under the French Presidency, will discuss a formal framework for dialogue on peace and security. Negotiations on the economic partnership agreement, held under the responsibility of the Commission, are also on the agenda.
With regard to EU-Africa cooperation in general, the Slovenian Foreign Minister qualified the EU-Africa Summit in Lisbon as successful and assessed that it was now time to start preparing the implementation of the joint strategy and action plan. Technical preparations are in progress and Dr Rupel voiced his belief in the willingness of African countries to effectively implement the plan.
The EU welcomed the initiative to strengthen cooperation with the African Union as well as the efforts under the auspices of the UN Security Council to consolidate peace and security in Africa. The partnership between the European Union and the African Union attaches great importance to the area of peace and security and the EU provides substantial assistance to all peace initiatives on the African continent.
A joint communique has been issued at the end of the meeting.
