In South Africa, where he completed an official visit on Tuesday 19 July, as well as in Zambia earlier, where an African Union (AU) coordination meeting was held, the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, spoke out in favour of an alliance to meet global challenges together - “multifaceted challenges”- but also of pragmatism in order to give substance to the major investment projects, the principle of which was adopted at the last European Union/African Union summit, particularly in the field of clean energy.
“The EU and South Africa are major partners in finding fair and sustainable solutions to global problems. We are committed to working together on food security, stability in Mozambique, and advancing our burgeoning trade relationship”, Michel said on his Twitter account, thanking South African President Cyril Ramaphosa for his welcome.
Five months ago, the sixth EU/African Union summit in Brussels inaugurated “new software for our strategic partnership”, with a €150 billion ‘Africa-Europe’ investment package promised by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen under the Global Gateway (see EUROPE 12894/1).
Mr Michel reiterated this in his speech on 17 July in Lusaka at the fourth AU biannual coordination meeting hosted by Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema.
“Let us be concrete”, he implored, calling for the commitments made to be respected. He mentioned major projects “on paper”, which are yet to be realised: “electricity interconnections, for example between Zambia and Tanzania, Angola and Namibia, DRC and Zambia, massive investments in the huge potential of renewable energies, for example the development of clean hydrogen in Namibia and elsewhere”.
He also stressed that “investments in road and rail transport to link and bring together”, have been initiated, citing “the Dakar-Abidjan or Mombassa-Kisangani project.
Mr Michel also cited technology transfer to enable the production of experimental RNA-messenger vaccines in Africa as a key feature of the EU/AU partnership. “We are working with you to get these vaccines purchased internationally, for example through GAVI/COVAX”, he said.
Furthermore, the President of the European Council reiterated the EU’s readiness to support the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Referring to the war in Ukraine and the looming food crisis, he highlighted the EU’s financial support “to mobilise urgent humanitarian assistance to vulnerable populations” in Africa (see EUROPE 12976/15) and its efforts “to support agricultural production in Africa and to ensure that access to inputs, including fertilisers, is a reality”.
He also said he “fully” supported the plea of African Union President Macky Sall to secure a seat for Africa at the G20. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)