EU-AU Summit Kicks Off in Brussels with Participation of Morocco

The sixth European Union-African Union summit opened Thursday afternoon in Brussels, with the participation of Morocco. The Moroccan delegation is led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Abroad, Nasser Bourita. If, for the European side, the summit is an opportunity to lay the foundations for a renewed and deepened partnership with the African Union, Morocco will confirm, through its qualitative presence, carried by the leadership of HM King Mohammed VI, its political commitment at the highest level which is part of the Royal Vision for a prosperous Africa, emancipated and able to take its destiny in hand. In addition to the very active Moroccan participation in all segments (intergovernmental, private sector, NGOs), organized in the run-up to the summit, the co-chairmanship by Morocco of the round table to be held on Friday on Education, Culture, Vocational Training and Migration and Mobility is a mark of renewed confidence in the place enjoyed by the Kingdom, thanks to the Royal leadership, among its African brothers and its European friends and partners. According to the Council of the European Union, this summit “will be a unique opportunity to lay the foundations for a renewed and deepened EU-AU partnership with political commitment at the highest level, based on trust and a clear understanding of our mutual interests.” African and European leaders are expected to discuss how the two continents can enhance prosperity, with the aim of launching an ambitious Africa-Europe investment package taking into account global challenges such as climate change and the current health crisis. The two sides are also expected to discuss tools and solutions to promote stability and security through a renewed architecture for peace and security, the same source added. The summit is organized through thematic round-table discussions on financing growth, health systems and vaccine production, agriculture and sustainable development, education, culture and vocational training, migration and mobility, private sector support, economic integration and peace, security and governance, and finally climate change and energy transition, digital connectivity and infrastructure and transport. A joint declaration on a common vision for 2030 should be adopted at the end of the summit. The fifth EU-AU Summit was held on 29 and 30 November 2017 in Abidjan. The EU and AU leaders had on that occasion adopted a joint declaration outlining common priorities for the EU-Africa partnership in four strategic areas, namely Economic Opportunities for Youth, Peace and Security, Mobility and Migration and Cooperation on Governance.