New york: Permanent representatives of the African Group and the European Union accredited to the United Nations in New York met on Thursday to reaffirm the strategic importance of the long-standing partnership between the two continents.
According to Angola Press News Agency, the meeting was held under the theme "Promoting Peace, Prosperity and Human Dignity Together through the UN and Effective Multilateralism." It was framed within the 7th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) and the European Union (EU), held on November 24 and 25 in Luanda. The discussion aimed to strengthen coordination between the AU and the EU at the United Nations, aiming to bolster effective multilateralism based on respect for international law and the UN Charter. The focus was on promoting the implementation of the results of the 7th AU-EU Summit in the context of the United Nations, emphasizing peace, combating terrorism, governance, and development.
African and European ambassadors reflected on the future of multilateralism, including institutional reform, Security Council reform, and strengthening the three pillars of the UN. They explored practical ways for cooperation in United Nations processes related to peace and security, peacebuilding, development financing, and global governance.
In his closing remarks, as the diplomatic representative of Angola, the country holding the rotating presidency of the African Union, Ambassador Francisco Jos© da Cruz highlighted the growing strategic alignment between the main priorities of the two continents, particularly focusing on the AU's Agenda 2063 and the European Union's Political Priorities. The diplomat highlighted progress in various areas including sustainable development, trade facilitation, investment, and capacity building for women and young people.
He mentioned advances in peace and security, conflict prevention and management, economic diversification, and regional integration, alongside close cooperation in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change challenges. However, he advocated for joint efforts to tackle common challenges like migration, global governance reform, international financial architecture, and food security.
Francisco Jos© da Cruz reiterated that Security Council reform remains an ongoing process until a fair and transparent reform is achieved that addresses the historical injustice against Africa. He stressed that "Africa must be treated as a special case in the process of reforming Intergovernmental Global Governance."
The ambassador also called for strengthened joint work within the framework of the UN 80 Initiative, to enhance the organization's effectiveness, efficiency, and accountability by reducing fragmentation and duplication of functions. He acknowledged the opportunities in intra-African trade facilitated by the African Continental Free Trade Area, in agriculture, and in the growth of the continent's young population. Additionally, he emphasized the need to expand mobility and exchanges between citizens of the two continents, ensuring safe, orderly, and mutually beneficial migration, while promoting youth empowerment through education, skills development, and entrepreneurship.