THE EUROPEAN UNION AND AFRICA LAUNCHED STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP
On 8-9 December, Undersecretary of Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Laimonas Talat-Kelpša participated in the 2nd European Union-Africa Summit in Lisbon, in which strategic partnership between the two continents was launched as the Joint EU-Africa Strategy as well as Action Plan 2008-2010 had been adopted.
“By making this step the European Union not only shows its ability to mould common policy towards neighbour regions, but also assumes initiatives to include the continent, where strategic interests of the world powers intersect, into cooperation net”, said Laimonas Talat-Kelpša.
Strategy, where the political partnership on equal basis is intended, shows a new character of European-African relations, which is defined by joint decisions on bilateral and global issues and will stimulate Africa’s integrity. The Strategy includes cooperation for politics and security, good governance and human rights, trade and regional integration, implementation of Millennium Development Goals.
The first Action Plan includes eight Partnerships: Peace and security; Democratic governance and Human Rights; Trade and regional integration; Millennium Development Goals; Energy; Climate change; Migration, mobility and employment; Science, information society and space.
The Summit was attended by the representatives from 80 European Union and African countries as well as Heads of European Commission and African Commission.
The first EU-Africa Summit was held in Cairo, in 2000. The Summit scheduled in 2003 was cancelled.
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