By: Our Reporter
Worth Noting:
- The ambassador said President Kenyatta, alongside other leaders, is expected to attend a series of roundtable sessions to discuss growth financing, health systems and vaccine production, agriculture and sustainable development as well as education, culture and vocational training.
- The summit is aimed at strengthening the AU-EU strategic partnerships in trade and investment as well as other areas of cooperation including current global challenges like climate change, the Covid-19 pandemic, peace and security.
President Uhuru Kenyatta joined fellow African and European Heads of State and Governments and other leaders at the opening ceremony of the 6th African Union (AU) – European Union (EU) Summit in Brussels, Belgium
During the two-day Summit, the leaders will discuss how both continents can strengthen political and economic ties for a greater prosperity.
President Kenyatta is among the African and European Heads of State and Governments attending the two-day summit held between 17th-18th February. Today (Friday), the President is expected to co-chair a roundtable session on agriculture & sustainable development.
This summit is very key. It brings together over 90 per cent of African Heads of State and Governments or their representatives,” said Prof Jacob Kaimenyi, the Kenyan Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium during a press briefing ahead of the President’s arrival. #AfricaEU
The ambassador said President Kenyatta, alongside other leaders, is expected to attend a series of roundtable sessions to discuss growth financing, health systems and vaccine production, agriculture and sustainable development as well as education, culture and vocational training.
The summit is aimed at strengthening the AU-EU strategic partnerships in trade and investment as well as other areas of cooperation including current global challenges like climate change, the Covid-19 pandemic, peace and security.
EU–Africa relations
The summit comes at a difficult time. Current challenges include COVID-19, migration and the economic situation in a number of African countries.
The EU is by far the first partner of Africa in terms of investment and security. The renewed partnership should be built on:
- prosperity – in both Africa and in Europe, taking into account the global challenges: climate change, the digital revolution, energy, infrastructure and health
- stability – developing and using the tools needed to support African partners’ efforts to improve security and the fight against terrorism
Financing for sustainable and inclusive growth
The goal is to build well-phased and progressive support to accelerate sustainable growth and decent jobs in Africa.
Short-term goals: to support a rapid, green, inclusive and sustainable recovery by mobilising financing instruments and tackling debt vulnerabilities.
Mid-term goals: to support Africa’s industrialisation and a vibrant private sector, deepen cooperation between African and non-African private companies (value chain integration), including mobilising businesses in the EU to invest alongside African SMEs and accelerate reforms.
Climate change and energy transition, digital and transport [connectivity and infrastructure]
Here leaders will focus on expediting Africa’s connectivity through human-centric digitalisation and sustainable energy, boosting clean, climate-resilient and sustainable investments for a just energy transition and promoting priority infrastructure projects.
Peace, security and governance
Ensuring long-lasting peace and security in Africa is a shared interest. That is why the EU will increase its support to African peace operations. The EU aims at strengthening practical cooperation, strategic AU-EU engagement and joint decision-making, with key areas of cooperation being: security, including maritime security, cybersecurity and fighting terrorism. Peace is not just the absence of war: partners are also working on conflict prevention, enhancing the rule of law, promoting human rights and preventing gender-based violence.
Private sector support and economic integration
Africa and Europe work together to better connect countries, people, services and businesses. For the private sector, helping find the right financing instruments is crucial, especially for young entrepreneurs. Deepening Africa’s economic integration can boost sustainable industrialisation and job creation, including through the development of the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Education, culture and vocational training, migration and mobility
Leaders will focus on equitable, inclusive and high-quality education and vocational training. On migration, they will discuss safe and regular migration as an opportunity. Protecting lives and fighting against smuggling and human trafficking will also be a topic of this roundtable.
Agriculture and sustainable development
The focus will be on activating Africa’s farming potential: containing food insecurity and accelerating the transformation of sustainable and nutritious African food systems. In the context of the green transition and fighting against desertification, the aim is to strengthen the response to climate change and promote the sustainable management of resources.
Health systems and vaccine production
Speeding up the global vaccination effort is key (nobody is safe until everyone is safe), so Europe has led global solidarity efforts to address the pandemic. Team Europe has exported more than
half of its production since the crisis began; it supported the creation of ACT-A which has delivered more than one billion doses (including 350 million vaccines for Africa) and European countries
have shared doses destined for their own citizens, including 125 million to African countries where
it is the principal donor. The EU reaffirms its commitment to also provide 700 million vaccine doses by mid-2022 to developing countries, of which at least 450 million will benefit Africa.
Investment package
At the end of the summit, a joint declaration on a joint vision for 2030 is expected to be adopted by the participants. It will announce a EUR 150 billion Africa-Europe Investment Package that will support our common ambition for 2030.
This Global Gateway Investment Package will aim to boost public and private investment building on existing initiatives and partnerships.
It will boost large-scale sustainable investments, supported by Team Europe Initiatives, in key joint priority areas focusing on:
- green transition;
- digital transition that supports trusted connectivity;
- sustainable growth and decent job creation;
- human development.
Previous summit
The fifth African Union – European Union (AU-EU) summit was held on 29-30 November 2017 in
Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
- EU and African leaders adopted a joint declaration outlining common priorities for the EU-Africa partnership in four strategic areas:
- economic opportunities for youth
- peace and security
- mobility and migration
- cooperation on governance
Felix Njenga