Meeting ahead of today’s Foreign Affairs Development Council, developments ministers from the Party of European Socialists (PES) discussed the latest EU-African Union summit and the next steps to strengthen cooperation between the sister continents.
Chair of the PES Development Ministers network, Portuguese Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Francisco André, said:
“We want to see a strong partnership between Europe and Africa. EU relations with Africa require an underlying consistent and strong political dialogue; topics of common interest must be discussed with openness and with a pragmatic approach.
“EU positions regarding key issues for our African partners should be clearly transmitted and our considerable efforts to enhance and adjust our cooperation initiatives should be better communicated.”
Ministers underlined the need for a better and more consistent dialogue, deeper EU-AU coordination on key issues, and more visibility for joint initiatives promoting solidarity, security, peace, sustainable and sustained economic development, and prosperity.
The meeting took stock of the extensive progress that has already been made and commended the work of progressive European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen. Thanks to her efforts and the promotion of the Team Europe approach, the EU is a leader – through programmes like Global Gateway – in the fight to support sustainable development and reduce global poverty.
Ministers also discussed the outcome of COP27 and the impact of climate change on the most affected countries with a particular focus on the development perspective.
The meeting was attended by:
- Francisco André, Chair of the PES Network, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Portugal
- Flemming Møller Mortensen, Minister for Development Cooperation, Denmark
- Svenja Schulze, Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Germany
- Samuel Žbogar, State Secretary for political and multilateral affairs, economic diplomacy and development cooperation, Slovenia
- Jutta Urpilainen, European Commissioner for International Partnerships, European Commission
- Udo Bullmann, MEP, S&D Group Coordinator on Development, European Parliament
- Giacomo Filibeck, Executive Secretary General, PES
