EU Presidency Statement on appointment of President Denis Sassou-Nguesso as AU chairman

Statement by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union welcoming the new chairman of the African Union.

The European Union congratulates the Republic of Congo and its President Denis Sassou Nguesso for having been chosen to lead the African Union for the coming year. President Sassou Nguesso has already played an important role in the adoption of the AU Non-Aggression and Common Defence Pact. During his Chairmanship of the CEMAC he has also been a driving force behind the peace keeping operation in the Central African Republic (FOMUC). He played an important role in solving the constitutional crisis in Sao Tomé and Principe. The EU therefore expects him to keep Peace and Security in Africa high on the agenda of the AU during his Chairmanship.

The Chairmanship of the African Union is a very important and challenging task. The African Union and its organs are the concrete translation of a new African determination to make the continent a better place to live and where the problems of development, regional integration, democracy, and peace and security are effectively addressed.

In its short period of existence, the African Union has already achieved a lot but its leaders have defined an ambitious agenda to make it an even more successful organisation that can deliver to the needs of the African people. The European Union is a natural partner in this endeavour and it is keen to continue and to strengthen this partnership to our mutual benefit.

The European Union has adopted last December a Strategy for Africa, and we have noted with great satisfaction that the AU summit has welcomed it. The Strategy contains very comprehensive and concrete commitments to better assist Africa on the basis of African ownership and responsibility. A successful implementation requires a joint effort with our partners in Africa on continental, sub regional and national level.

The political framework for implementing the Strategy in partnership is the EU/Africa dialogue which should lead up the organisation of a second EU/Africa summit.

The Acceding Countries Bulgaria and Romania, the Candidate Countries Turkey, Croatia* and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro, and the EFTA countries Iceland and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova align themselves with this declaration.


* Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.

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• HR de l'UE Solana félicite le nouveau président de l'UA (24/1/2006)
• La Commission européenne félicite le nouveau Président de l'UA (24/1/2006)