Brussels, 04/06/2010 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 8 June, the European Commission and the African Union (AU) Commission will be holding their fourth bilateral meeting jointly chaired by José Manuel Barroso and Jean Ping. The meeting will be held in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), the seat of the African Union. It will provide an opportunity for the two parties to enhance institutional cooperation, give fresh impetus to EU/Africa strategy, and prepare the third EU/Africa summit (November, in Libya, under Belgian presidency), due to adopt its second joint action plan for 2011-2013.
The two commissions will also have an occasion to work on a forward-looking multilateral agenda ahead of two major events: the UN meeting on the results and prospects of the Millennium Development Goals (New York, 20-22 September) and international climate talks with a view to the Cancun conference (Mexico, 29 November-10 December).
A memorandum of understanding is expected to be signed on administrative cooperation between the two parties, whereby the European Commission will support the creation of a pan-African office for the selection and training of personnel. Both commissions will also lay the first foundations for a future African migrant fund institute.
Barroso will be accompanied by ten commissioners: Antonio Tajani (industry), Maroš Šefècoviè (interinstitutional relations), Janez Potoènik (environment), Andris Piebalgs (development), Karel De Gucht (trade), Kristalina Georgieva (international cooperation, humanitarian aid, crisis response), Günther Oettinger (energy), Connie Hedegaard (action for climate), Štefan Füle (enlargement and neighbourhood policy) and Dacian Cioloº (agriculture and sustainable development). The latter will have talks on specific themes with their African colleagues. (A.N./transl.jl)