The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, and the President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, exchanged views on strengthening the strategic partnership between the European Union and South Africa during a telephone conversation on Monday 20 May.
According to a European Council press release, the Presidents reaffirmed their recent commitments, made in Pretoria in January (see EUROPE 13109/13), to expand the partnership to “new areas of mutual interest” in the green hydrogen, critical minerals and vaccines sectors.
Mr Michel and Mr Ramaphosa also reaffirmed their firm commitment to multilateralism and peace in the face of global challenges, particularly in the Middle East, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (see EUROPE 13360/7) and Sudan (see EUROPE 13402/36).
With regard to Ukraine, the Presidents discussed “the importance of upholding the UN charter and the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity”.
South Africa’s “non-aligned” stance on Russian aggression is regularly interpreted by some in the international community as a sign of support for Russia (see EUROPE 13109/13).
The leaders agreed to hold a bilateral summit in the short term. (Original version in French by Bernard Denuit)