Portugal ‘committed to enhancing’ EU-Africa partnership

Portugal’s foreign minister, Augusto Santos Silva, said on Friday that Portugal would continue to be “very committed to enhancing the partnership between the European Union and Africa,” considering it “decisive” for the sustainable growth of both continents.

“Portugal will, of course, continue to be very committed to enhancing the partnership between the European Union and Africa, which we consider to be decisive for the future and the sustainable growth of both continents,” the minister said at the opening session of the EU-Africa Green Investment Forum, organised by the Portuguese presidency of the Council and the European Investment Bank (EIB).

The priority of this partnership should be to “strengthen the green transition,” he said, considering it “an enormous opportunity for job creation and sustainable economic growth that will reduce inequalities.

The strengthening of the green transition “is also an opportunity” to promote the “economic potential” of both continents “through green and sustainable incentives”.

Noting that “the EU has set very ambitious goals for itself” in the fight against climate change, especially with the agreement reached this week on the Climate Act – in which it commits to reducing carbon dioxide emissions by at least 55% by 2030, relative to 1990 levels – Santos Silva stressed that it is necessary to “recognise that Africa has very little responsibility for greenhouse gas emissions”.

“At the same time, [Africa] is one of the regions most affected by the consequences of climate change. We must resolve this paradox,” the minister stressed, considering that “this is an unfair reality” that should bring both continents together “to promote a prosperous and fair post-pandemic recovery.

Santos Silva also said he hoped that “this forum between the EU and Africa would be a milestone that would pave the way for the next EU/African Union summit,” postponed in 2020 and still without a date set.

“We must value a dialogue between Europe and Africa, a real partnership between both continents, a partnership based on common interests and objectives to build together a more prosperous, greener, more resilient future,” the minister stressed.

Europe’s role in the transition to a green economy on the African continent is the theme of the EU-Africa Green Investment Forum, which today brings together European and African policymakers, private sector and civil society representatives.

The forum closes a month of dialogue between Europeans and Africans on sustainable development and green investment promoted by the Portuguese presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU) with the holding of 23 virtual conferences, called “Green Talks”, which began on 24 March from Dakar, the capital of Senegal.