Interview with Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, EP President 2004 - 2007

The story of the EP by its Presidents: Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, EP President 2004 - 2007 - 17. Africa

During the plenary sessions MEPs hold debates on foreign affairs and security policy to discuss European Union (EU) action beyond its borders. The EU Treaties differentiate between common foreign and security policy (CFSP), common security and defence policy (CSDP), external action, and the external dimension of internal policies. To address new challenges such as climate change, rising insecurity or new migration patterns, the EU has put forward concrete solutions to shape synergy between the actors, in order to use shared expertise more effectively, and to find new sources of funding. The new foreign policy framework (EU global strategy) is intended to map the tools and resources best designed to help society as awhole, in the EU and partner countries, to withstand natural and manmade shocks more effectively. In the years to come, global instability is expected to rise; the challenge for the EU will be to ensure security while upholding the core values of the Treaties – human rights, democracy and the fight against poverty – as its primary objectives on the global stage.

Parliament will debate on the EU’s global health solidarity and preparedness in light of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.

On 17 May 2026, the World Health Organization (WHO) determined that the Ebola disease outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus in the two African countries constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC). The EU has already provided support to help contain the outbreak, including financial assistance, and expertise and increased research efforts to develop vaccines and treatments.

EU - Africa

Europe and Africa have close historical, cultural and geographical ties. EU-Africa relations are based on the 2000 Cotonou Agreement with African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries, which grew out of the 1975 Lomé Convention.

Africa-EU relations are framed by the Joint Africa-EU Strategy (JAES) adopted by 80 African and European Heads of State and Government at the Lisbon Summit in 2007. This Strategy encompasses the Africa-EU Partnership, the political framework which defines bilateral relations. Its goal is a partnership between equals that will jointly tackle issues of mutual concern. It was reaffirmed with a positive spin at the 4th EU-Africa Summit held in April 2014 in Brussels.

EU - Africa (1994-2020)

EP President Metsola is in Rome, where she addresses the international summit “Italy – Africa. A bridge for common growth”.

International Summit “Italy – Africa. A bridge for common growth” with the participation of Roberta Metsola, EP President

EP Plenary Session - July 2026 - Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda: EU solidarity and preparedness in global health

DFAR - Exchange of views with Commissioner Hadja Lahbib regarding the humanitarian situation in eastern DRC following her trip to the Great Lakes region of Africa

DEVE AFET - Public Hearing on EU-Africa Relations ahead of the 7th AU-EU summit

EP Plenary session - Renewing the EU-Africa Partnership: building common priorities ahead of the Angola Summit

Delegation to the Africa-EU Parliamentary Assembly extraordinary meeting - Exchange of views on the sustainable management of Raw Materials in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

Delegation to the Africa-EU Parliamentary Assembly - Exchange of views on Sharing international responsibility for protecting victims of sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo

DAFR extraordinary meeting

Delegation to the Africa-EU Parliamentary Assembly Connstitutive meeting

This video shows extracts from the debate on the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. Parliament discusses EU global health solidarity amid Ebola outbreaks in the DRC and Uganda, declared a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 17 May 2026. The EU provides financial aid, expertise, and research support, though no approved vaccines or treatments exist for the Bundibugyo virus strain. While past Ebola outbreaks had fatality rates of 25-90%, the ECDC assesses the risk to the EU population as very low. This transcription is the result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda: extracts from the debate

Hadja LAHBIB, European Commissioner for Equality, and European Commissioner for Preparedness and Crisis Management, closes the debate on Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda: EU solidarity and preparedness in global health. Parliament discusses EU global health solidarity amid Ebola outbreaks in the DRC and Uganda, declared a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 17 May 2026. The EU provides financial aid, expertise, and research support, though no approved vaccines or treatments exist for the Bundibugyo virus strain. While past Ebola outbreaks had fatality rates of 25-90%, the ECDC assesses the risk to the EU population as very low.

Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda: EU solidarity and preparedness in global health: closing statement by Hadja LAHBIB, European Commissioner for Equality, and for Preparedness and Crisis Management

MEPs debate on Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda: EU solidarity and preparedness in global health. Parliament discusses EU global health solidarity amid Ebola outbreaks in the DRC and Uganda, declared a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 17 May 2026. The EU provides financial aid, expertise, and research support, though no approved vaccines or treatments exist for the Bundibugyo virus strain. While past Ebola outbreaks had fatality rates of 25-90%, the ECDC assesses the risk to the EU population as very low.

Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda: EU solidarity and preparedness in global health: MEPs debate (part 2)

MEPs debate on Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda: EU solidarity and preparedness in global health and Hadja LAHBIB, European Commissioner for Equality, and European Commissioner for Preparedness and Crisis Management, replies. Parliament discusses EU global health solidarity amid Ebola outbreaks in the DRC and Uganda, declared a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 17 May 2026. The EU provides financial aid, expertise, and research support, though no approved vaccines or treatments exist for the Bundibugyo virus strain. While past Ebola outbreaks had fatality rates of 25-90%, the ECDC assesses the risk to the EU population as very low.

Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda: EU solidarity and preparedness in global health: MEPs debate and reply from Hadja LAHBIB, European Commissioner

Hadja LAHBIB, European Commissioner for Equality, and European Commissioner for Preparedness and Crisis Management, opens the debate on Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda: EU solidarity and preparedness in global health. Parliament discusses EU global health solidarity amid Ebola outbreaks in the DRC and Uganda, declared a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 17 May 2026. The EU provides financial aid, expertise, and research support, though no approved vaccines or treatments exist for the Bundibugyo virus strain. While past Ebola outbreaks had fatality rates of 25-90%, the ECDC assesses the risk to the EU population as very low. This transcription is the result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda: EU solidarity and preparedness in global health: opening statement by Hadja LAHBIB, European Commissioner for Equality, and for Preparedness and Crisis Management

1. Objection pursuant to Rule 114(3): InvestEU Fund strategic investments in the field of defence 2. Martin Hojsík (ENVI A10-/) - Soil Monitoring and Resilience (Soil Monitoring Directive) 3. César Luena (ENVI A10-/) - Preventing plastic pellet losses to reduce microplastic pollution 4. Motions for resolutions - Renewing the EU-Africa Partnership: building common priorities ahead of the Angola Summit

Voting Session

Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, attends the International Summit “Italy – Africa. A bridge for common growth” in Rome (Italy). The event is held in the Italian Senate – Palazzo Madama – and it is attended by Heads of State and Government and Ministers of African countries, as well as the leaders of the European Union, the African Union and the main International Organisations. This news item shows extracts from the arrival of President Metsola to the Italian Senate, family photo with EU and Africans leaders and extracts from her keynote speech.

International summit Italy – Africa with the participation of Roberta METSOLA, EP President: arrival, family photo and extracts from the keynote speech

Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, gives a speech at the International Summit “Italy – Africa. A bridge for common growth” in Rome (Italy). The event is held in the Italian Senate – Palazzo Madama – and it is attended by Heads of State and Government and Ministers of African countries, as well as the leaders of the European Union, the African Union and the main International Organisations. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

EU - Africa (T)

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