«This EU-Africa Summit will go down History» says José Sócrates
This EU-Africa Summit will go down history because it approved a strategy and a plan of action between the two continents, but also because it created a new spirit of cooperation, loyalty and equality among States», declared José Sócrates, Portuguese prime minister and current president of the European Union, during the press conference that closed the work sessions of the II EU-Africa Summit.
For José Sócrates, who was accompanied by John Kufuor, president of the African Union, José Manuel Durão Barroso, president of the European Commission and by Alpha Omar Konaré, president of the African Commission, «this Summit will also go down History because it gave voice to everyone: to human rights, to immigrants, to refugees, to development needs and common concerns with the environment».
The president of the EU also stressed the fact that the Summit created, among participating States, «a new project, a new spirit where cooperation, mutual help, loyalty and friendship are all present», stating that this is the «spirit of Lisbon».
José Sócrates also declared that the II EU-Africa Summit placed the human rights issue at the centre of the agenda, due to the common wish of European and African leaders. «Discussing human rights was not a European imposition on Africa. It was the result of a common will between the two parties».
The current president of the African Union, John Kufuor, also stated that the II EU-Africa meeting changed relations between the two continents. «The success of this summit reflects the interest and willingness of these States and creates great expectations on Africa and Europe».
For the current AU president, the summit that ended today in Lisbon is «a success» and it will have «a tremendous impact in the new era of globalisation».
This is a shared position by the president of the European Commission, José Manuel Durão Barroso, who stated that cooperation between the European Union and the African Union now goes largely beyond «a relation among politicians and diplomats. It also highlights the human link between the two sides of the Meditarranean».
According to José Manuel Durão Barroso «it would be difficult to find a better bridge between the two continents than Lisbon». He added that he felt very honoured, as president of the European Commission, to have participated in the effort to improved relations between the European and the African countries.
«We are living a very important moment», said Durão Barroso. «From this summit comes out a plan of action for the next three years that deals with migrations, energy, human rights, climate change and scientific research».
For Alpha Omar Konaré, president of the African Commission, the EU-Africa Summit was a «franc debate among the States of these two continents». According to Konaré, «Africa is not poor; it only needs good governance so that the riches of this continent can benefit all the population».
Konaré also said that he is very happy with the fact that there are «many voices» of civil representation - entrepreneurs, the youth and various associations - that are involved in the partnership between the two continents and ready to collaborate so that this cooperation between Europe and Africa can develop in a positive way for all parties.
For José Sócrates, who was accompanied by John Kufuor, president of the African Union, José Manuel Durão Barroso, president of the European Commission and by Alpha Omar Konaré, president of the African Commission, «this Summit will also go down History because it gave voice to everyone: to human rights, to immigrants, to refugees, to development needs and common concerns with the environment».
The president of the EU also stressed the fact that the Summit created, among participating States, «a new project, a new spirit where cooperation, mutual help, loyalty and friendship are all present», stating that this is the «spirit of Lisbon».
José Sócrates also declared that the II EU-Africa Summit placed the human rights issue at the centre of the agenda, due to the common wish of European and African leaders. «Discussing human rights was not a European imposition on Africa. It was the result of a common will between the two parties».
The current president of the African Union, John Kufuor, also stated that the II EU-Africa meeting changed relations between the two continents. «The success of this summit reflects the interest and willingness of these States and creates great expectations on Africa and Europe».
For the current AU president, the summit that ended today in Lisbon is «a success» and it will have «a tremendous impact in the new era of globalisation».
This is a shared position by the president of the European Commission, José Manuel Durão Barroso, who stated that cooperation between the European Union and the African Union now goes largely beyond «a relation among politicians and diplomats. It also highlights the human link between the two sides of the Meditarranean».
According to José Manuel Durão Barroso «it would be difficult to find a better bridge between the two continents than Lisbon». He added that he felt very honoured, as president of the European Commission, to have participated in the effort to improved relations between the European and the African countries.
«We are living a very important moment», said Durão Barroso. «From this summit comes out a plan of action for the next three years that deals with migrations, energy, human rights, climate change and scientific research».
For Alpha Omar Konaré, president of the African Commission, the EU-Africa Summit was a «franc debate among the States of these two continents». According to Konaré, «Africa is not poor; it only needs good governance so that the riches of this continent can benefit all the population».
Konaré also said that he is very happy with the fact that there are «many voices» of civil representation - entrepreneurs, the youth and various associations - that are involved in the partnership between the two continents and ready to collaborate so that this cooperation between Europe and Africa can develop in a positive way for all parties.