EU-Africa Summit to Focus on Common Challenges

Leaders from the European Union and Africa will gather in Lisbon over the weekend for the 2nd EU-Africa Summit where they will adopt a new Joint EU-Africa Strategy. This will address such common challenges as climate change, sustainable development, energy, migration, peace and security, trade and regional integration, good governance and human rights.

"Africa must be a priority for our external relations," said European Commission President José Manuel Barroso. "It is time to leave paternalism and go beyond the mere donor-recipient approach, breaking stereotypes about Africa in Europe, and about Europe in Africa. We need each other. This joint partnership is the best political strategy to accelerate progress towards the Millennium Development Goals in Africa and to address the global challenges we both face."

Louis Michel, EU Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, added that "we need to consider this Summit as a launch-pad for a new era in the relationship between Europe and Africa.”

On the eve of the Summit, the EU announced the appointment of seasoned Belgian diplomat Koen Vervaeke as both the European Union's Special Representative and the European Commission's Head of Delegation to the African Union.

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