Visiting Rwanda on 7-8 March, the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, promoted Covid-19 vaccination and cooperation between the EU and Africa in this field, as well as the digital and climate transitions - strategic priorities for the EU.
“We think in Europe that climate change and digital ambition are the two top priorities. We would also like to develop our alliance between Africa and the European Union”, he is quoted as saying, according to the transcript of his remarks to the Rwandan press.
First injections. On Sunday 7 March, Mr Michel attended the start of the vaccination at the medical centre of Mayange (Bugesera district), which had just received the first batch of 340,000 doses delivered by the Covax Facility, led by WHO, GAVI and CEPI, with financial support from the EU, its Member States and financial institutions (2.27 billion euros, i.e. a quarter of the funds committed).
“The European Union’s top priority is to work with its partners in Africa and Rwanda”, he said, reiterating: “We won’t be safe until everyone is safe”.
Mr Michel was accompanied by MEP and doctor Chrysoula Zacharopoulou (French liberal from the Renew Europe Group), rapporteur to the European Parliament for the future EU/Africa strategy, who was involved in the first injections.
The post-Covid-19 recovery and bilateral cooperation were at the heart of talks on Monday between Mr Michel and Rwandan President Paul Kagame. They both laid a wreath at the Genocide Memorial in Kigali.
A meeting was also held with the Secretary General of the International Organization of la Francophonie (OIF), Louise Mushikiwabo. Mr Michel also visited the Westerwelle Startup Haus, which was powered by the German foundation Evonik Stiftung in October 2018.
“We have decided to invest to develop similar projects in other cities in Rwanda. We will work closely with the Rwandan authorities to ensure that we can develop and strengthen this very strong digital ambition”, said Mr Michel
On Tuesday 9 March, he will be in Rwanda, where he will meet with President Uhuru Kenyatta in Nairobi. A visit to the Kenya Climate Innovation Centre (KCIC) is also on the agenda.
The WHO announced on Monday that with 156,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine delivered to Togo from Sunday night to Monday, the Covax Facility has now reached 19 countries in Africa with first vaccine allocations. The EU has ordered more than 2 billion doses, far more than its 450 million inhabitants. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)