Brussels, 12/05/2010 (Agence Europe) - As part of the South Africa-European Union Strategic Partnership, a political dialogue meeting at ministerial level took place in Brussels on Tuesday 11 May, on the sidelines of the EU Foreign Affairs Council. The meeting, chaired by High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton, saw the EU and South Africa come closer in their positions on the major international issues and reinforced their strategic partnership. Also under discussion were the various matters of common interest, whether bilateral cooperation or global challenges.
The meeting was hailed by both parties as a further constructive step on joint promotion of peace and security in the world and on the response to the world economic crisis, tackling climate change and, last but not least, the worldwide celebrations with the forthcoming World Cup tournament which will be held in South Africa. The two parties are now working on the preparation of the third South Africa-EU summit to be held in September, probably in Brussels.
Given that South Africa is an emerging power, Development Commissioner Andris Piebalgs said after the meeting that the EU-South Africa strategic partnership was one of the world's most powerful, for the G20 in Toronto on 26-27 June, for climate negotiations, for preparation of the UN summit on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and for peace and security. It was time, he said, to show that there was global political leadership for global governance, peace and security and also economic growth for the benefit of all. South Africa, too, is sure of this.
South Africa sees the EU as a natural partner, said South African International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane. South Africa, she went on, welcomed the new arrangements brought in by the Lisbon Treaty. They permit greater and better coordination of all bilateral, trilateral and continental - those which involve the whole of Africa - projects. She added: “We took stock of development and development aid issues at this time of economic challenge. We discussed how to work together to strengthen the South African government's intervention priorities, SADC economic integration, and also to strengthen the institutions of the African Union”. The minister also hailed the success of the EU-South Africa strategic partnership in resolving the conflict in Burundi where elections are now awaited. She spoke, too, of the desire of both parties to cooperate so that, at the climate conference in Cancún (COP16, 29 November-10 December), the Copenhagen Accord is used to move towards a comprehensive, ambitious, mutually beneficial and binding agreement. The will to cooperate on finding solutions to get out of the current global economic crisis is also great. “We have already had other crises: the energy crisis and the food crisis. We have to work together in all international fora to support sustainable development,” the minister said. This means at the UN summit on the MDGs (New York, 22-24 September) and in preparation for the next EU-South Africa summit at the end of the year. “South Africa is preparing for the World Cup. Everything is going well and we are ready to welcome you,” she added, offering an invitation to Andris Piebalgs. (A.N./transl.rt)