Brussels, 05/12/2013 (Agence Europe) - José Manuel Barroso, European Commission President, is to attend the summit for peace and security in Africa, hosted in Paris at the Elysée Palace on 6 and 7 December by French President François Hollande. Some 40 African heads of state and government, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, and Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, are expected at the summit organised at a time when preparations are being stepped up for despatching French forces to Central Africa, to support the African-led international support mission in the Central African Republic (MISCA). On Thursday 5 December, the EU Political and Security Committee discussed “various options” for helping the international community.
The Elysée summit will focus on peace and security in Africa, economic partnership and development and climate change. Barroso will deliver a speech at the opening session and take part in meetings between heads of state and government. The next EU-Africa summit will be held in Brussels on 2 and 3 April 2014. (AN/transl.jl)