The European Commission and the African Union have held a meeting on Monday to review relations and relaunch key projects for the development of the link between continents, agreeing on the disbursement of 750 million in transport and energy investments in Africa.
The funds come from the ‘Global Gateway’ key infrastructure program with which Europe intends to counteract Chinese influence on the continent. Of the total amount that the European Commission and the Twenty-seven aspire to mobilize, half, 150,000 million, will go to the construction of works of strategic importance in Africa, they have reported in a joint statement.
“Africa and Europe are united by a geography and a common destiny”, stressed the president of the European Executive, Ursula von der Leyen, who has asked to exploit the full potential of the relationship and has indicated that the European funds are a “positive offer and substantial” to strengthen the continent.
At the meeting, the two commissions have agreed to launch a program of 750 million euros in support of investments in transport infrastructure, including strategic corridors, digitization and energy connections in Africa.
They have also addressed the global food crisis and welcomed the mobilization of an additional €570 million for Africa, bringing grants to almost €4.5 billion, as well as working groups for short- and long-term challenges related to food access and price. fertilizers.
Both commissions have pointed out the impact of the war in Ukraine on the economies of Europe and Africa and referred to the votes of the Security Council and the Assembly of the United Nations. Of course, only the European Commission has condemned Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, “illegal, unjustified and unprovoked and causing enormous suffering”.
