11/02/25 (Agence Europe) – The European Union and South Africa are to hold a bilateral summit on Thursday 13 March, President of the European Council António Costa said on X on Monday 10 February. In a telephone conversation with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Mr Costa underlined “the EU’s commitment to deepening ties with South Africa as a reliable and predictable partner”. In addition, the president of the European Council expressed “the EU's full support to South Africa’s leadership“ in the context of the ‘G20’ presidency, held by Pretoria from 1 December 2024. Mr Costa expressed his “ambition to strengthen multilateral cooperation and the ‘Pact for the Future’ [developed at the United Nations Summit of the Future (see EUROPE 13500/8)] to address the most pressing global issues”. (BD)