The President of the European Parliament, Roberta METSOLA, gives here statement ahead of the 6th European Union - African Union Summit in Brussels.

statement

Strasbourg

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

EU - African Union (T)

6th European Union - African Union Summit: Statement by Roberta METSOLA, EP President

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Good afternoon. It's good to be here. The African Union and the European Union are connected in many ways. We are bound by history and friendship, but also common challenges such as security, energy reduction of poverty, education and jobs, climate change.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, We need to be here also to move from aids to partnerships. I would like to see a summit where the African Union and the European Union talk to each other as equals that we no longer talk about challenges, but we talk about opportunities. And this summit is really about opportunity. Opportunity of investment, opportunity of investing in the digital and green transitions, opportunities of also looking at the potential of our African partners.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Investment in Africa is investment in Europe. And this is a summit that can allow us to really look at the prospects. But of course, for us as the European Parliament, we will also insist as lost like investments in Europe. These investments are also based on and founded on democracy, on human rights, on rule of law. So that the value really is felt by all citizens. And that for us, it is important that we have the fundamental principles that are protected.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, We want co-ownership. We want investment of the private sector, and we will continue to make sure that that investment is done, and is done now. We look forward very much to this summit. I look forward to the discussions that we will. We will have and very much looking forward also to participating in the debates that we will have with the partners.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, I have already stated that fascist salutes are unacceptable in this day, and ever and anywhere. This kind of gestures should be committed to the darkest chapters of our history and that should be staying there. So I have today initiated a sanctions procedure with regard to the incident that happened yesterday in the European Parliament and through the different processes that will now be taken as usual is taken in this particular situation.