During the EP plenary session (2-5 July 2018) in Strasbourg, João LOURENÇO, President of Angola , addresses MEPs in a formal sitting.

Strasbourg

debate

speech

formal sitting

EU - Angola (T)

LOURENÇO, João (AO)

Address by João LOURENÇO, President of Angola : extracts from the formal sitting

Arrival to the EP Chamber of Antonio TAJANI, EP President and Jo&atilde;o LOUREN&Ccedil;O, President of Angola.

SOUNDBITE (English), Antonio TAJANI, EP President, I invite Angola to join the economic partnership agreement existing between the EU and 6 countries of the region. Beyond the economy, Angola can play a strong role in the region. I welcome the efforts made and the openness to refugees from the RDC. Migration is a common challenge on which we have to work together.

SOUNDBITE (Portuguese), Jo&#227;o LOUREN&#199;O, President of Angola, We see the EU as a key partner able to help us overcome the challenges that we still face today when it comes to development and progress and guarantying the welfare of our people.

SOUNDBITE (Portuguese), Jo&atilde;o LOUREN&Ccedil;O, President of Angola, We are now undertaking a real fight against corruption, especially towards the white collar corruption. We are ensuring that everyone will benefit from this 0 tolerance policy.

SOUNDBITE (Portuguese), Jo&atilde;o LOUREN&Ccedil;O, President of Angola, Children of Africa leave the continent as migrants, they leave voluntarily, that&rsquo;s something we hear but that&rsquo;s open to debate. To be honest, they are fleeing from in terrible situations: war and extreme conflicts, desperate poverty, lack of jobs and perspectives, seeking a better future. That is the sad fact that many countries in Africa are going through and it is the responsibility of us all. We call on Europe to work with our continent to set up a model for cooperation, one that would be looking to the long-term future, a sustainable solution allowing us to process raw materials and to industrialize our economies so that we can provide better jobs and better opportunities for citizens back home.

SOUNDBITE (Portuguese), Jo&atilde;o LOUREN&Ccedil;O, President of Angola, We believe that is in everyone&rsquo;s interest, we can only win in Africa and in Europe, if we are able to keep young people in Africa by offering them dignified jobs and better lives. (...) Thank you, applause