Brussels, 19/01/2009 (Agence Europe) - An EU/South Africa ministerial troika took place on 16 January in Kleinmond (near the Cape) under the joint presidency of Dr Nkosana Dlamini Zuma, the South African foreign affairs minister and Karel Schwarzenberg, the Czech foreign minister (EUROPE 9818). The ministerial confirmed the strengthening of the strategic partnership between the two parties, initiated in 2008, to increase the level of their relations and political dialogue.
The troika was organised against a background of the world financial crisis but helped the two parties to recognise the need for greater involvement and representation of developing countries in discussions on reform of the institutions in charge of world governance.
In the context of the world food crisis, ministers welcomed the EU's response of setting up a facility for €1bn but highlighted the need to strengthen the agricultural sectors in Africa and developing countries.
Ministers repeated the need to tackle the phenomenon of climate change, to which Africa is particularly vulnerable. They said that it was “essential to redouble efforts to mitigate the consequences on the developing world in general and Africa in particular”. It was acknowledged that the impact of climate change would have serious implications of meeting the Millennium Development Goals and for food and water security for the people in Africa. Ministers noted that EU and African Union environment ministers would be able to hold discussions in February at the 25th session of the United Nations Environmental Programme (16-20 February, Nairobi).
The political and health situation in Zimbabwe is still a major cause of concern to the two parties. Although ministers are delighted with the increased cooperation between the Harare government and the international community in fighting the cholera epidemic, they say they are extremely worried by the continued violence and still of negotiations on power sharing. They are calling on all parties to conclude negotiations urgently and pointed out that the agreement on 15 September is a solution to help Zimbabwe exit the socio-economic crisis into which it has plunged.
The EU and South Africa also said that they were “deeply concerned” about the humanitarian tragedy and suffering of ordinary citizens in the Gaza Strip and stated their firm conviction that “a viable Gaza economy is essential for sustainable peace”. They appealed to Hamas and the Israeli authorities to cease hostilities and combined this appeal with a call for the border crossings between Gaza and the Israel to be opened to allow the resumption in the flow of goods and people.
In the framework of the first EU/South Africa summit in Bordeaux in July 2008 (EUROPE 9711), the two parties agreed on extending the scope of their partnership to immigration, space, health, maritime transport and energy, including energy efficiency and renewables. In the latter, which is a priority of the Czech presidency, ministers noted the cooperation made in the area of “clean coal technology and carbon capture and storage and welcomed the goals of the SA-EU Energy Dialogue forum as agreed in December 2008. The first meeting of the Energy Dialogue Forum should take place during the Czech presidency. More renews, the first meeting between South Africa and the EU Political and Security Committee will also take the form of a troika under the Czech presidency.
In bilateral relations, the EU and South Africa reiterated their determination for the current Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the EU and the Southern African Development Community supporting regional integration and development of southern Africa. The EU and South Africa agreed to increase their cooperation to guarantee the conclusion of an EPA that is “acceptable to both parties” and which requires the taking into account of the EPA's implications on the ongoing regional integration process, a result that “constitutes the essential underpinning for the proper functioning of the customs union”.
At the ministerial troika he had participated in, Louis Michel, the EYE for development held a bilateral meeting with the president of the South African Republic, Kgalema Motlanthe. The meeting focused on the general elections planned in the second half of 2009 in South Africa and the political situation in Zimbabwe. The Commission pointed out that the EU was looking at the implementation of new restrictive measures under CFSP. Quoted by the AFP, Louis Michel declared in Kleinmond that these measures would not target ordinary people but only those in power. The second EU/South Africa summit will be in the second half of this year under the Swedish presidency of the Council. (A.N./trans/rh)