2014-01-20Staff Report 2 "WINDHOEK - The Director of the European External Action Service (EEAS) for the Horn of Africa, Eastern and Southern Africa and Indian Ocean, Koen Vervaeke, visited Namibia last week and invited President Hifikepunye Pohamba to participate in the upcoming EU-Africa Summit that will be held from April 2 to 3, 2014 in Brussels, Belgium. He also met with Minister of Foreign Affairs Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Trade and Industry Minister Calle Schlettwein and other senior government officials, civil society representatives, as well as representatives from key economic sectors, such as the agriculture and mining sectors. Vervaeke informed New Era that he is responsible for the coherence of European Union action in the region and the programming of the EU’s financial cooperation. He told President Pohamba that in terms of the theme of the summit, which is “Investing in People, Prosperity and Peace” Namibia is doing well and with President Pohamba’s presence in Brussels, it will be a unique opportunity to renew momentum of this continental partnership, while discussions would focus on precursors of growth and enablers for jobs to grow. He also informed President Pohamba that top business people, as well as representative of small businesses from both continents are also invited to a business forum on the eve of the summit to discuss ways of improving the investment and business climate in the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) region and to raise the profile of doing business in Africa. He said the President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso has emphasised that it is an increasingly interdependent world, therefore, Africa and Europe’s future are closely interlinked. “The European Union and the African Union must work together not just to provide security, but to improve the day-to-day lives of all citizens. ""The strategic partnership between Africa and the EU pursues common objectives and aims to expand the political dialogue and concrete operation into new areas of shared interest, the envoy said. ""The Joint Africa-EU Strategy (JAES) was adopted at the summit in Lisbon in 2007 by 80 heads of state and government from Africa and Europe where both sides agreed to pursue common interests and strategic objectives. ""Vervaeke said the JAES outlines a long-term shared vision of the future of Africa-EU relations in a globalised world. By Fifi Rhodes" 2014-01-20Staff Report 2
