Prime Minister Andrus Ansip departs for the EU-Africa Summit

Tallinn, Stenbock House, 7 December 2007 – Today, Prime Minister Andrus Ansip departs for Lisbon to attend the EU-Africa Summit. The heads of all European Union Member States and African Union states have been invited to the summit.

At the summit, the first common strategy of the European Union and Africa in history is planned to be ratified, as well as the policy paper on the implementation of the strategy for the years 2008-2010. The main idea of the common strategy is partnership with African countries, characterised by European Union development assistance to Africa, and the latter being mainly focused on its political future and development.

In addition to the common strategy and the policy paper for the implementation of it, a joint statement is planned to be adopted, which stresses the wish to ensure relations based on equality and common values.

The summit will provide Estonia with good opportunities for developing bilateral relations with countries that are located far from Estonia geographically and with whom relations have been modest so far. African countries are also interested in expanding their relations with the countries that have recently joined the European Union, both with respect to broadening political cooperation and economic relations.

The Lisbon Summit is the second grand forum of the European Union and Africa. The first meeting on similar matters took place in 2000 in Cairo.

The heads of 27 European Union Member States and 52 African Union states have been invited to the summit. All countries of the African continent, except Morocco, who has also received an invitation, are members of the African Union.

The Prime Minister will be accompanied on his visit by Villu Känd from the Government Communications Office (phone 52 754 24).

Sincerely,
Government Communications Office