President Zuma to Co–Chair the Second SA - EU Summit in Kleinmond, Cape Town - 11 September 2009.

Pretoria – President Jacob Zuma will co-chair the Second South Africa-European Union (EU) Summit with his Swedish counterpart, Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, scheduled for Friday, 11 September 2009, in Kleinmond, Cape Town.  President Jacob Zuma will be supported by the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ms Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Water Affairs and Forestry Minister Buyelwa Sonjica, Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, Rural Development Minister Gugile Nkwinti Economic Development Minister Ebrahim Patel and Science and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor.

While, the EU delegation for the Summit will be led by Mr Fredrik Reinfeldt, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Sweden and President of the European Council, and will include Mr José Manuel Barroso, European Commission President, and Dr Javier Solana, Secretary General of the Council of the European Union and High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and other senior EU officials. 

President Jacob Zuma co-chairs the Second SA-EU Summit within the context of the on-going political dialogue (the Mogôbagôba Dialogue) under the auspices of the SA-EU Strategic Partnership and the SA-EU Trade, Development and Cooperation Agreement (TDCA). The primary objectives of these joint discussions is to further deepen SA-EU relations and to address issues of mutual interest and concern including many of the key national priorities as set out by President Zuma, namely health, education, rural development, job creation, and combating crime.

Through the Second SA-EU Summit South Africa seeks to build on the positive progress that has been made since the partnership was launched in May 2007. Accordingly the Summit will make an assessment of the progress on the implementation of the SA-EU Strategic partnership. Other issues on the agenda of discussions are expected to include:

• The ongoing negotiations on the SADC-EU Economic Partnership Agreements;
• The global financial crisis;
• Climate Change;
• Peace and Security in Africa;
• The Middle East; and  
• Preparations for the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup;

A key outcome during the Summit will be the signing of the amending Agreement to the SA-EU Trade, Development and Cooperation Agreement (TDCA).  The Amending Agreement includes 35 new and revised non-trade chapter articles which were negotiated following the mid-term review of the TDCA.  The Amending Agreement will be signed by Minister Maite Nkoana Mashabane and her EU counterpart.

The Summit will be preceded by the 9th SA-EU Ministerial Troika meeting on the morning of Friday, 11 September 2009 to discuss the implementation of the SA-EU Strategic Partnership Joint Action Plan and future areas of co-operation, as well as EU-Africa relations and issues of peace and security in Africa.  International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane will lead the South African delegation to the Ministerial session.

During the first SA-EU Summit in Bordeaux, France, on 25 July 2008, South Africa and the EU recognised that since the establishment of a Strategic Partnership between South Africa and the EU in May 2007, bilateral relations had developed into an enhanced mutually beneficial partnership, based on strengthened political dialogue and cooperation in a wide range of economic and other areas.

SA-EU Economic Relations.

• The EU is the world’s largest trading bloc and generates about 30% of global GDP and 20% of global trade flows.  It is the world’s biggest aid donor to poor countries, contributing approximately half of global aid.

• Implementation of the SA-EU Trade and Development Cooperation Agreement (TDCA) trade provisions has been under way since 2000 with the aim of establishing a Free Trade Area (FTA) between South Africa and the EU by 2012. Total trade has increased over five-fold, from R 56.5 billion in 1994 to R 313 billion in 2007.

• In 2007 South Africa’s exports to the EU-27 totalled R152,6 Billion. The EU also ranked as South Africa’s number one export region for 2007.

• Europe remains the principal source of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in South Africa, accounting for around 80% of total FDI in 2005.

• Europe remains the principal source of foreign direct investment (FDI) in South Africa, accounting for around 80% of total FDI in 2005. Additionally, the EU accounted for approximately 66% of net foreign investment in South Africa in 2003 and 2004, and in 2005 the EU’s share of the total assets held by foreigners in South Africa amounted to approximately 60%.

• The EU is South Africa’s largest development partner representing approximately 70% of all Overseas Development Assistance (ODA), with South Africa earmarked to receive € 980 million for 2007-2013. The European Investment Bank has also approved a loan mandate of € 900 million for South Africa.

SA TRADE WITH EU-27 (R’ BILLIONS)

Source: SA Customs

Media Programme for 2nd SA - EU Summit in Kleinmond, Cape Town - 11 September 2009

For more information contact Nomfanelo Kota on 082 459 3787

Department of International Relations & Cooperation
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001

10 September 2009