EU-Africa summit focuses on people, prosperity, peace

(Vatican Radio) The 4th EU-Africa Summit brought together more than 60 EU and African leaders and a total of 90 delegations this week in Brussels, Belgium, to discuss the future of EU-Africa relations and reinforce links between the two continents.

A Spanish missionary and the executive secretary of the Africa Europe Faith and Justice Network Sr. Begoña Iñarra, spoke with Davide Maggiore about the Church’s contribution to peacebuilding, education and integral human development in Africa. Listen:

Below, please find the text of the introduction to the Declaration of the participants in the summit meeting:

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We, Heads of State and Government of the European Union (EU) and Africa, the President of the European Council, the President of the European Commission, the President of the African Union (AU) and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), met in Brussels on 2-3 April 2014. We took as our theme "Investing in People, Prosperity and Peace", with the objective of addressing common challenges and bringing concrete benefits to our citizens in accordance with the Joint Africa-EU Strategy (JAES).

Recognising the high degree of interdependence between Africa and Europe and guided by the shared principles of equal partnership and joint ownership, we take particular pride in the breadth and depth of our partnership, which is firmly rooted in our shared values of democracy, the respect forhuman rights, rule of law and good governance as well as the right to development.

We reaffirm our commitment to the objectives set out in the Joint Africa-EU Strategy adopted at our Summit in Lisbon in 2007. We take note of the very real progress made, including in the Tripoli Declaration of our third Summit in 2010, and reaffirm our determination to give a new momentum to our partnership. We agree to mobilise resources to this end.

Since 2010, important developments have taken place on our continents.

Africa has achieved significant progress in democracy, governance and human rights which however remains to be consolidated. Africa has experienced pronounced economic growth: a growing number of countries and people are reaching middle income status and attracting increased investment flows. Yet this growth has not been sufficiently inclusive or even, both between as well as within countries. The Continent continues to face significantchallenges.

Africa is celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Organisation of African Unity/African Union. There is an opportunity for a transformation at continental, regional and national levels to ensure that Africa's potential is realised and its economic integration achieved in a sustainable manner and in line with the AUC Strategic Plan 2014-2017 and Africa’s Transformation 2063 Agenda. This will enable Africa to become a key
player in the global arena.

The EU economy suffered a recession but returned to a path of growth in 2013. Job creation will remain a serious challenge and an important priority, especially in providing employment opportunities for young people. The EU has made significant progress in strengthening the architecture of its Economic and Monetary Union, deepening its Single Market, implementing the Treaty of Lisbon and undertaking structural reforms by Member States to pave the way for smart, sustainable, and inclusive growth as well as for regulating their financial sector.

We are convinced that the growth of our two continents will be mutually beneficial: our economies remain closely linked, and we will work to ensure that the growth of the one will help the other. We are also convinced that trade and investment and closer economic integration on each of our continents will accelerate that growth.

People must remain at the heart of our partnership, so we pledge today to provide them with the opportunities they need. It is the essence of our partnership that we tackle these challenges more effectively if we tackle them together, to the benefit of our citizens. Our joint agenda will have people, prosperity and peace and security at its core.

The full declaration can be found at:

http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_Data/docs/pressdata/en/ec/142096.pdf