JOINT STATEMENT BY PRESIDENT OF SOUTH AFRICA THABO MBEKI, PRESIDENT OF FRANCE NICOLAS SARKOZY, AS PRESIDENT JOSE MANUEL BARROSO ON THE OCCASION OF THE EU-SOUTH AFRICA SUMMIT IN BORDEAUX, FRANCE ON 25 JULY 2008
President Mbeki, Sarkozy and Barroso met today and agreed to issue the following joint statement:
SA-EU Strategic Partnership:
The Presidents welcomed that since the establishment of a Strategic Partnership between South Africa and the EU in May 2007, bilateral relations have developed into an enhanced mutually beneficial partnership, based on strengthened political dialogue and cooperation in a wide range of economic and other areas. The partnership is a reflection of the shared values and interests of South Africa and the EU, and an instrument to joint purse both side's commitment to promote liberty, peace, security and stability in the world, and Africa in particular.
The Presidents agreed to increase coordination and cooperation on peace and security through regular meetings between the EU Political and Security Committee and South Africa.
The Presidents identified the following possible areas for enhanced bilateral cooperation in the future: energy, space, transport, health, ICT, migration and social dialogue.
The President welcomed South Africa's recent participation in the EU Framework Programmes for Research where SA researchers are participating in more than 170 projects supported by a direct EU investment of more than € 20 million in South Africa. They noted the €30 million Sector Budget Support funds provided to South Africa for strengthening science and technology interventions for poverty alleviation.
The President also appreciated the successful outcome of the side event on "Water Research for Sustainable Development" and agreed on the main orientations to strengthen research cooperation, also in support of the Science, Information Society and Space Partnership of the Africa - EU Joint Strategy and the new South African Development Community (SADC) Science and Technology Protocol.
The Presidents welcomed the development of a window for South African students and scholars to participate in the Erasmus Mundus programme and enrol in European universities.
The Presidents agreed to pave the way for enhanced customs cooperation and to start with the launch of a customs cooperation project in order to share best practices on a wide range of issues, including on the implementation of the World Customs Organisation's SAFE Framework of Standards.
Regional/Security issues:
Both sides welcomed the adoption of the Joint EU-Africa Strategy at the Second EU-Africa Summit held in Lisbon, on 9 and 10 December 2007, and expressed their determination to work towards its full implementation. In this context, the meeting welcomed the intention of South Africa and the EU to work towards increased cooperation between the EU and the AU to promote peace and security on the African continent as an essential condition for development. In this regard, the President noted with satisfaction the progress made in the broader Great Lakes region and committed to further cooperate to enhance the prospect for durable peace in Burundi.
The Presidents also welcomed the adoption by the EU of the EU Agenda for Action on the MDGs.
The Presidents exchanged views on the current situation in Zimbabwe.
They expressed their concern at the prevailing situation and its negative impact o the sub-region. In light of the negative reports by SADC, the AU and the Pan-African Parliament observers on the run-off election held on 27 June 2008, they further stressed the need to create an environment conductive for democracy.
The EU recalled its view that a transitional Government should be established, respecting fully the will of the Zimbabwean people as expressed on March 2008, with a view to the organisation of early free, fair and democratic elections.
South Africa stressed the need for all to respect the right of the Zimbabwean people to determine their future free of outside interference and that the most urgent task now is to assist the leadership of Zimbabwe across the political divided to negotiate an agreement tat will help Zimbabwe solve its challenges.
The Presidents welcomed the commitment by President Mbeki to facilitate the negotiation process between the parties, with a view to reaching an early and successful outcome. The Presidents welcomed the signing of a memorandum of understanding in Harare on 21 July 2008, which is in line with the AU Summit Resolution of Sharm el-Shaik of 1 July 2008, as a first step towards an agreement between the parties that would reflect the will of the Zimbabwean people.
Consistent with the understandings made in the MOU, the Presidents called for an immediate end to the violence, and the lifting of all restrictions to the distribution of humanitarian aid. They called on the Zimbabwean parties to act with urgency and cooperate in good faith towards the successful conclusion of the negotiations.
Presidents reaffirmed their commitment to the stability and integrity of Sudan.
The President underlined the need for all Parties to commence with an inclusive political process to find lasting peace in Darfur and welcomed the recent appointment of Mr Bassole as United Nations / African Union Facilitator for the Darfur Peace process.
The Presidents called for the speedy deployment of the United Nations/ Africa Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) to end the suffering of the people of Darfur and of women and children in particular. The Presidents condemned the recent attacks on peacekeepers where seven were killed and twenty two wounded.
The Presidents expressed their support for the progress made in terms of the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), particular the ratification of the Electoral Law, which paves the way for the holding of general elections scheduled to take place in July 2009. They further expressed their support for the agreement by the National Congress Party (NCP) and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) on the "Roadmap for Return of IDPs and Implementation of Abyei Procotol" to finding a lasting solution to the resolution of the Abyei border dispute.
The Presidents emphasised the importance of putting an end to impunity in Darfur.
Taking into account the regional dimension of the Darfur crisis and with regard to eastern Chad and CAR, Presidents noted that EUFOR Chad/CAR is an important EU contribution to improve in particular the security for refugees and IDPs.
The meeting also discussed the question of migration with the aim to promote mutual understanding and cooperation on the matter. Both sides recognise the multidimensional challenges of migration and the need to cooperate on addressing these challenges. Both sides agreed that migration requires a global approach and welcomed the idea to establish a structured dialogue, covering issues such as legal and illegal migration, including admission rules and respecting dignity and rights of migrants, capacity building as well as the linkages between migration and development.
The meeting also discussed a number of international crises in particular the Middle East peace process, where both sided recognised the positive role played by the other side. Both side expressed their support for the post-Annapolis negotiations between the Israeli and Palestinian leaderships. Both sided welcomed other constructive contributions, in particular the Arab League Peace Initiative. They further urged the Israeli and Palestinian negotiating teams to achieve the goal of establishing a viable Palestinian State, existing side by side in peace with Israel within internationally recognised, before the end of 2008, as declared at the Annapolis Middle East Peace Meeting.
Economic Partnership:
Both sides recognised the positive role that the Trade, Development and Cooperation Agreement (TDCA) continues to play in increasing exchanges between South Africa and the EU, creating new areas of cooperation and establishing a new development framework. They welcomed the revision undertaken in 2007 and looked forward to its adoption in the near future.
Following on the discussion between the participants at the Lisbon Summit, the Presidents engaged in an open and frank exchange of views of the Economic Partnership agreement (EPA) between the EU and the SADC EPA group of countries . Both the EU and South Africa share the objective that the EU-SADC EPA should promote development and regional integration in Africa, specifically in SADC and SACU. The Presidents confirmed their commitment to bridge the prevailing differences and reach an outcome that is balanced and beneficial for all parties.
In line with the Joint Africa-EU Strategy and NEPAD, the meeting emphasised the important role that the private sector can play to drive Africa's development. The Presidents discussed the challenges to make the business environment in Africa more conductive to investment, employment creation, growth and sustainable development, and adopted the attached joint political statement on the subject. In this regard emphasis was given to enhancing investment in the following sectors: energy, ICT, wear, agriculture and transport. They also recognised that improving the functioning and efficiency also expressed support for the role played, i.e. by the European Investment Bank, EU-Africa Trust Fund for Infrastructure, African Development Bank and the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa in driving investment in Africa.
Both Parties remain committed to concluding the Doha in line with the developmental mandate and objectives set out in the Doha Declarations. Presidents recognised the importance of the Doha Round to promote global economic growth and further integration of developing countries into the global trading system on a fair and equitable basis.
South Africa emphasised that an equitable and proportional outcome of NAMA that does not undermine industrial development is integral to a successful outcome. Both sides signalled their willingness to engage further in the process in order to resolve the remaining differences among WTO members in a constructive manner.
The consequences for the developing world of rising food prices were also discussed.
Global issues:
Climate Change is a vital challenge to humanity and as such needs to be addressed by both developing and developed countries in accordance with the principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities.
The President emphasised their shared commitment to the objective and principles of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol. They reaffirmed their utmost determination to conclude negotiations on a strengthened global climate change agreement by 2009 and decided to issue the attached political statement.
The Presidents highlighted the need for enhanced energy efficiency and security and recommended to step up cooperation in this field, both building on the newly launched working group on coal, clean coal and carbon capture and storage. The meeting agreed to the creation of an Energy Dialogue Forum to oversee the work of these groups, give a structure to bilateral contacts and encourage and facilitate further co-operation in such area as energy efficiency and renewable energies.
South Africa thanked France for hosting the first ever EU-South Africa Summit.
Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa, Department of Foreign Affairs, July 25 2008
