The Cabinet has welcomed the support of the European Union (EU) for South Africa’s positions on global geopolitics and the priorities of its Group of 20 (G20) Presidency.
This follows the successful 16th Ministerial Political Dialogue between South Africa and the EU, which took place on 19 February 2025 in Cape Town.
“The dialogue presented an opportunity for the EU and South Africa to reiterate their common commitment to multilateralism, rules-based international order, and the centrality of the United Nations (UN) Charter,” said Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni on Thursday.
The Minister was addressing a post-Cabinet briefing in Cape Town after Wednesday's meeting.
According to Ntshavheni, the parties at the ministerial dialogue also agreed on the need to reform the UN Security Council, recognising the urgent need to make it more representative, inclusive, transparent, efficient, democratic and accountable.
The EU and South Africa discussed their cooperation in multilateral and regional fora, highlighting their joint efforts to promote human rights, sustainable development and address climate change.
“They also reviewed opportunities to step up cooperation on sustainable value chains, including critical raw materials to further their respective competitiveness, economic security and decarbonisation efforts,” Ntshavheni said.
She explained that the meeting also acted as a preparatory platform for the upcoming EU-South Africa Summit, scheduled for 13 March 2025 in South Africa.
The summit will focus on improving economic relations, ensuring a just energy transition, addressing security and defence issues, promoting sustainable value chains and enhancing multilateral cooperation.
The EU is South Africa’s top source of foreign direct investment and South Africa is the EU’s largest trading partner in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Moreover, Ntshavheni said the meeting also underscored the importance of holding the EU-African Union (AU) Ministerial Meeting and Summit in 2025. – SAnews.gov.za
