Greece’s relations with Africa can be traced back through the ages. We have longstanding bonds of friendship and cooperation with the states and peoples of the continent. And these relations give us a sincere interest in the consolidation of peace and security on the African continent.
Greece attaches great importance to the peaceful and steady emergence of Africa as the “continent of the future.” And we want this future to mean great opportunities for all the peoples of the continent – a continent with the potential to give all of us (with Africans and Europeans working together) opportunities for cooperation and synergies.
Africa cannot remain a space of protracted conflicts and civil strife. In realization of the vision of the great Nelson Mandela, Africa must fulfil its destiny as a continent of tolerance, democracy, peace, equality and justice. A continent of opportunity and prosperity.
EU and Africa share common principles guiding their partnership and we are working jointly fro dealing with common challenges: peace, security, inclusive growth, fighting unemployment, eliminating poverty, respect for human rights, education, migration, good governance. Our common effort is guided by the need to achieve tangible results.
As a major global shipping power, Greece has participated actively in the efforts of the EU and international community to fight piracy.
The EU – which took on the lead role in the Contact Group on Piracy of the Coast of Somalia as of January this year – is focusing its efforts on dealing with the root causes of piracy and criminal networks in the Horn of Africa, and this has resulted in a reduction of the number of ships seized by pirates of the coast of Somalia.
As the situation in Somalia gradually improves, however, it is important for us, as the EU and as the international community, to maintain this positive momentum.
The Gulf of Guinea presents the next big challenge in this regard, although the circumstances and the root causes are not the same.
Overall, nine out of fifteen currently active EU missions and operations in the context of Common Security and Defence Policy are deployed in Africa. I think this makes clear our commitment to helping meet the needs of African countries, be it through training, advice, equipment or funding resources – the full range of tools at the European Union’s disposal, and to the stabilization and development of the continent, to the benefit of all African peoples and countries.
Africa has made considerable progress since the first EU-Africa Summit, in 2000. And the African Union has been instrumental in the progress made towards establishing and consolidating peace, security and democracy.
The integrated long term Strategy of the African Union for the Prevention, Management and Resolution of Crisis, as well as the institutions that have been put in place for its implementation, constitute a very important step forward, based on respect of the need for Africa’s problems to be resolved by the African States themselves, the African Ownership of the Solutions.
The path forward runs through the strategic partnership between Europe and Africa. And as the current Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Greece looks forward to seeing EU-African relations and cooperation further enhanced here at this 4th EU-Africa Summit.
Thank you for your attention.
April 4, 2014