The EU/South Africa summit in March could be an opportunity to announce the opening of negotiations on a ‘clean trade and investments partnership’. That, at any rate, is the European Commission's ambition, as three European sources have confirmed to Agence Europe.
In a draft communication on the ‘Clean Industrial Deal’ (see EUROPE 13582/1), the European Commission states that it intends to launch negotiations for an agreement of this type as early as March, without specifying with which countries. This timetable coincides with the EU/South Africa summit on 13 March.
At a political dialogue on Wednesday 19 February, attended by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, both parties expressed their desire to increase trade and cooperation in value chains.
“The European Union and South Africa have reviewed opportunities to step up cooperation on sustainable value chains, including critical raw materials, with a view to further their respective efforts in terms of competitiveness, economic security and decarbonisation”.
South Africa has large reserves of raw materials such as manganese ores (essential for steel production). A new partnership with this country would contribute to the EU’s efforts to diversify its sources of supply of strategic raw materials.
See the joint declaration at the end of the EU/South Africa political dialogue: https://aeur.eu/f/fkt (Original version in French by Léa Marchal)