Luanda: Around 2,000 delegates, including heads of state and government, as well as representatives of multilateral organizations, are set to participate in the 7th African Union (AU)-European Union (EU) summit. Speaking at the event's launch conference, Jorge Cardoso, the Director for Africa and the Middle East of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, highlighted the aim to amplify Africa's voice and defend its interests in the international context, which is currently marked by the threat to multilateralism.
According to Angola Press News Agency, at least 49 African states and 27 European states, alongside economic communities and regional mechanisms from both continents, will be in attendance. Representatives from subsidiary UN bodies, the Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), Ant³nio Guterres, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, will also be present. The summit aims to assess the progress of AU-EU relations and set a foundation for strengthening cooperation over the next three years.
The event's spokesperson noted that in parallel to the summit, the Forum on Youth and Civil Society and the AU-EU Business Forum are being organized for the first time. Rosaria Pais, the European Union Ambassador to Angola, identified key priorities for the summit, including economic diversification, job creation for young people and women, human development, and governance. The review of the Global Gateway investment package for infrastructure in Angola, alongside discussions on regional peace and security and economic integration, is also on the agenda.
Jer³nimo Pongolola, the administrator of the Angolan Agency for Private Investment and Export Promotion (AIPEX), stated that the Business Forum is expected to gather 600 participants and will feature high-level panels on financing, transport, logistics, and other pertinent topics. Dalila Bragan§a, the Secretary of State for Youth, explained that the Forum on Youth and Civil Society will focus on the skills and abilities needed by the youth to contribute effectively to their countries' development. These discussions aim to culminate in a report that will facilitate concrete initiatives.
The first African Union-European Union summit took place in Cairo, Egypt, in 2000.
