Online Reporter
George Maponga
Masvingo Bureau
THE Pan African Parliament (PAP) and the European Parliament (EP) have today adopted a joint declaration reaffirming a commitment to renewed cooperation for the benefit of citizens of the two continents.
PAP president Chief Fortune Charumbira presented the joint declaration with the Vice President of the European Parliament, His Excellency Younous Omarjee, in the Angolan capital, Luanda, during the ongoing 7th African Union-European union Summit.
The joint declaration by PAP and EP reaffirms the commitment by Africa and Europe to tighten the screws of cooperation grounded in democratic values, accountability and shared prosperity.
The adoption of the joint declaration followed a PAP-EP pre-summit meeting held at the African continental legislature’s permanent seat in Midrand, Johannesburg, South Africa on November 14 and 15 .
This pre-summit meeting served as a strategic platform for joint reflection, consensus building and development of joint messages that spoke to the aspirations of people in the two sister continents.
This meeting also came up with joint recommendations by PAP and EP that have been submitted to the ongoing AU-EU Heads of State and Government indaba in Luanda.
Chief Charumbira noted that the import of transmitting these recommendations to AU-EU Heads of State and Government was to make sure the voices and aspirations of citizens were integrated into deliberations at the ongoing Luanda summit.
The PAP president said this year marks 25 years of the unique and growing interface between the AU and EU.
For the past 25 years, Africa and Europe have continued to deepen cultural, economic and political growth to spur transformative development for the benefit of citizens in the two continents.
The EU is a key partner in Africa’s development matrix, with the former’s shadow looming large as the continent strives to meet its developmental priorities, particularly Agenda 2063 targets.
