EU Statement – UN General Assembly Plenary: From the New Partnership for Africa’s Development to Agenda 2063

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Madam President, Excellencies,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

The Candidate Countries North Macedonia*, Montenegro*, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina* and Georgia, as well as Armenia, align themselves with this statement.

The EU welcomes the three reports of the Secretary General on progress in the implementation of sustainable development in Africa and international support, and thanks the PGA for giving us the opportunity to discuss them today. 

This year marks the 25^th anniversary of the European Union-African Union partnership. 

We would like to make three points to highlight our partnerships.

[The long-lasting AU-EU partnership]

First, as Africa’s primary trading partner, largest investor, main peace and security partner, and biggest contributor of ODA and humanitarian aid, the EU remains strongly attached to our partnership with Africa, as demonstrated by the recent 3^rd EU-AU Ministerial Meeting in Brussels. We look forward to further strengthening our relations at the upcoming 7^th AU-EU Summit, which will take place in Luanda next month. 

We have an ambitious, solution-oriented and forward-looking partnership firmly rooted in a multilateral system with the UN at its core. Our daily work at the United Nations to promote sustainable development, human rights, conflict prevention and resolution, and addressing humanitarian needs, bears witness to how much we prioritise these issues. Europe and Africa need each other to build a solid and lasting response to global common challenges, from peace and security to an inclusive international financing architecture for sustainable development. 

This brings me to my second point.

[Global Gateway as the tool to implement the EU-AU partnership]

There is urgent need to bridge the financing gap to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by improving the effectiveness of public spending, identifying innovative solutions and mobilising all actors. The Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development and the Sevilla Commitment provide a renewed roadmap for that endeavour.

In that regard, the Global Gateway and its EU-Africa flagship projects will mobilise EUR 150 billion by 2030 to foster partnerships with private institutional investors which will boost sustainable investments to promote, amongst others, climate-smart solutions, digital transformation, food systems transformation, agri-food value chains, and financial inclusion.

Since the 2022 EU-AU Summit, Team Europe combined resources and expertise to develop more than 100 initiatives with Africa in strategic sectors like green energy, transport corridors, digitalisation, health systems and resources. 

For example:

• Acknowledging social protection and inclusive economic participation as key elements of strong country systems and peace sustention, Team Europe facilitates a Social Enterprise Fund across Africa to promote access to finance for social enterprises, supporting innovative business models for young people and women.

• Also, as the continent’s energy gap is one of the most significant barriers to its sustainable industrialization, the EU is mobilising EUR 618 million to expand the Team Europe's clean energy efforts in Africa, with new projects supporting electrification, modernise power grids, and improve access to renewables.                 

[Development-peace nexus]

Finally, the SG reports show that durable peace requires strengthening African state capacity, institutions and to combat the marginalization of vulnerable members of society. We are committed to continuing to strengthen partnerships to address insecurity, and support the region. An example is the EU support to the promotion of women’s role in security task forces and maritime security systems through its projects operating in 33 countries, including Ghana and Nigeria. 

Since the last EU-AU summit in 2022, the EU has approved support for the military and defence aspects of African peace and security initiatives through the European Peace Facility (EPF). To date, more than half of the EPF beneficiaries are African partners, and total EPF support to African partners amounts to over EUR 1 billion. In that regard, the EU continues to strengthen partnerships to address insecurity, prevent conflicts, and promote genocide prevention, in full respect of international law, including the prohibition of the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity, sovereignty, or political independence of any state.

Regarding the third report specifically, the EU reiterates its unwavering commitment to the prevention of genocide and any crime against humanity across the world and to ensure full accountability. The EU stresses the importance of a united and sustained effort by the international community to learn the painful lessons of the past, and do the utmost to thwart the repetition of any such abomination, including by rejecting and fighting against xenophobia, as well as any forms of discrimination and hate speech targeting persons belonging to national, ethnic, racial or religious groups.

The EU and its Member States remain committed to our partnership with Africa. We will continue to work towards enhanced and strengthened cooperation with our African partners, fostering a relationship based on principles such as national ownership, transparency, inclusiveness and respect of human rights. 

As European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said: "Africa and Europe are bound by geography and a common destiny. The EU-Africa partnership is of utmost importance to shape our future."

Thank you. 

* North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.