Leaders arrive for 4th EU-Africa Summit
The fourth EU-Africa Summit is underway in Brussels, Belgium under the theme “Investing in People, Prosperity and Peace”.
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Participants are expected to discuss peace, trade, security, investment, climate change and migration among others.
It is being attended by about 49 African heads of state and government including Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama and 29 European Union (EU) heads of government.
Already arrived from Africa for the summit amidst tight security, include Nigerian President Mr Goodluck Jonathan, Cameroonian President, Mr Paul Biya, Mrs Catherine Samba-Panza, Head of State of Transition of Central African Republic, Pierre Nkurunziza, President of Burundi, Mr Nabil Fahmy, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Egypt and Mr Osman Saleh Mohammed, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Eritrea.
Arrivals from Europe include Mr Rosen Assenov Plevneliev, President of Bulgaria, Mr Jyrki Katainen, Prime Minister of Finland and Mr Evangelos Venizelos, Greece’s Minister of Foreign Affairs among many others.
On arrival at the summit venue, Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan said “We expect that at the end of the summit the relationship between the EU and Africa would be enhanced – It becomes stronger and stronger in terms of our economic development and also in terms of our commitment to maintain peace and human security in Africa.”
Leading the two blocks are Mr Van Rompuy, President of the European Council and Mr José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission and Mr Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, African Union President and Mrs Nkosazana Clarice Dlamini Zuma, Chairperson of the African Union Commission.
Special guests at the summit include the United States Secretary General, Mr Ban-Ki Moon, President of the African Development Bank, Mr Donald Kaberuka and the Vice President of the European Investment Bank, Mr Pim Van Ballekom.
Others are the President of the Pan African Parliament, Mr Bethel Nnae meka Amadi, Vice President of the European Parliament, Mr Miguel Angel Martinez and the High Representative for foreign Affairs and Security Policy for the European External Action Service, Mrs Catherine Ashton.
Earlier summits were held in Cairo, Egypt (2000) ; Lisbon, Portugal (2007) and Tripoli, Libya (2010).
Writer’s email: Edmund.Asante@graphic.com.gh