President Barroso proposes new Euro-Africa Pact at the African Union Summit

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The President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, and the European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, Louis Michel, attended today the Summit of the African Union taking place in Sirte, Lybia. The Commission delivered a strong message of support to the African integration process and to the impressive changes that the continent is undergoing in recent years.

President Barroso, addressing the Summit, declared that recent changes in both Africa and Europe call for a re-assessment of the relationship between the two continents. "Today, there is a unique opportunity to put in place a new political partnership between an enlarged Europe and a re-emerging Africa". In the autumn of this year, the Commission will therefore put forward a comprehensive and long-term strategy for Africa. This strategy will be discussed with the African Union and the sub-regional organisations and will provide a solid basis for a new Euro-Africa Pact. He called for a Euro-Africa Summit to take place in Lisbon next year.

President Barroso spoke about the importance of Africa to Europe on the eve of the G8 Summit in Gleneagles, where he intends to deliver an ambitious message on trade and aid. President Barroso also raised the importance of Human Rights and good governance. "These are universal values and must be defended universally".

Commissioner Michel said interconnecting Africa will be an essential element of the strategy. "There can be no economic integration without physical interconnection". He emphasised the need for a specific partnership for infrastructure in Africa, based on ambitious Trans-African networks, covering roads, railways, airports, energy, water, Information and Communications Technology.

See also:
Speech by President José Manuel Barroso: "From Schuman to Sirte: a tale of two unions" at the African Union Summit (04/07, Sirte, Libya)

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