EU Commissioner Michel meets South African President Motlanthe

Discussions covered internal developments in South Africa and preparations for the upcoming general elections. Both parties reaffirmed the importance they attach to the EU-SA Strategic Partnership and their willingness to further strengthen it. They welcomed the progress being made to deepen the dialogue to new areas of co-operation, including space, science and technology, environment and health.

The exchange also covered regional and external relations, with an emphasis on Zimbabwe and the SADC region. Both parties took the opportunity to state their views on Zimbabwe and reflected on how to deal with the increasingly serious situation being faced by the country's population and the impact it is having on neighbouring countries.

Against the backdrop of the global financial crisis, both parties agreed on the necessity to see more involvement and representation of developing countries in discussions on reforming the global governance institutions.

Commissioner Louis Michel met separately with the President of the African National Congress, Jacob Zuma.

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