Europe Day 2015 Speech Pretoria
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EUROPE DAY 2015 UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA, MAY 8, 2015 ADDRESS BY THE HEAD OF THE DELEGATION OF THE EUROPEAN UNION TO SOUTH AFRICA ROELAND VAN DE GEER Minister Pandor of Science and Technology, representing the Government of the Republic of South Africa, Ministers and Deputy Ministers, Members of Parliament, Members of the Provincial Councils, Directors General and other representatives of the Government of South Africa, Representatives of the Provincial and Local Governments, Ambassadors, High Commissioners and Heads of Diplomatic Missions, Representatives of independent institutions and of civil society, Business leaders and representatives of business and industry, Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Friends, INTRODUCTION A very warm welcome to all of you and our heartfelt thanks for being here with us to celebrate Europe Day 2015 in South Africa. I extend this welcome to you on behalf of the 22 Embassies and High Commissions of the Member States of the European Union in South Africa, the European Investment Bank and our colleagues that are accredited to South Africa from elsewhere. THE EUROPEAN UNION Europe Day, ladies and gentlemen, marks the day in 1950 on which the then French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman presented his ideas for a supranational coal and steel authority to his colleagues. Schuman did so a mere five years after the end of the Second World War and the European Union is therefore the strongest possible expression of the conviction of the people of Europe that regional cooperation and not war, is the way forward. The current global situation shows that peace and security require hard work, commitment to diplomacy and the ability to build bridges. The lessons of two world wars have taught Europe that wellbeing and prosperity are based on peace and security, on respect for human rights and on an open society in which people do not fear to express themselves and in which they can develop their own lives; free, productive, creative and in full respect for each other. After a period of economic difficulty, Europe is slowly recovering. Our collective response to the crisis has resulted in much improved economic governance which is now speeding up economic recovery, thus contributing to global improvement. Europe is not turning inwards; on the contrary, the current situation calls for determined international action and close cooperation with our friends and partners world wide, in Asia, the America’s, Oceania and certainly also in Africa, the continent to which Europe feels so closely connected. THE EUROPEAN UNION AND SOUTH AFRICA The relationship between Europe and Africa continues to grow, reflecting developments on both continents, including Africa’s sustained economic growth that lifts millions out of poverty and enables the European Union and Africa to step up their economic ties and allow trade and investment to contribute to a truly forward looking partnership of equals which will be beneficial to the two continents. South Africa and Europe share a long history. While Africa liberated itself from colonialism, South Africa continued to be dominated by Apartheid, and it was only on the day that Nelson Mandela walked as a free man out of the Victor Verster Prison, on that unforgettable Sunday 11 February 1990, that South Africa had a real perspective on a better future. Since that Sunday in February 1990, Europe and South Africa have seen rapidly increased cooperation, culminating in the establishment in 2007 of the Strategic Partnership, a forward looking platform, ready for the 21 st century that facilitates the wide ranging cooperation between the European Union and South Africa. The European Union recognises South Africa’s active international role; in the southern African region, on the African continent and within the European Union’s sister organisation the African Union, but also in the global context, in the UN, the G20, the G77, the Commonwealth and as a member of the BRICS group. In this connection, the EU is looking forward to close cooperation with South Africa as the current G77 chair in preparation of the upcoming Climate Change Convention Conference in Paris. SOUTH AFRICA This year South Africa celebrates 21 years of democracy and much has been achieved. While Europe sees South Africa as a main international partner, we do of course fully recognise that South Africa itself continues to face considerable challenges. Poverty reduction and job creation remain priorities, while improved service delivery in areas such as education will require much investment and full engagement by all concerned. We also do recognise that to maintain the social fabric of the rainbow nation and to defeat xenophobia, full commitment and restraint, but also wisdom and determined action by all, will remain critical. Yes, we need to look ahead and address the future, but we should also be aware that the legacy of the past can only be overcome if we all, South Africans and the international community, continue to live up to the example set by Madiba, the symbol of what South Africa has achieved on the basis of the values enshrined in its Constitution. EUROPE’S SUPPORT TO SOUTH AFRICA It is in this context that the European Union will continue to offer supprt, to the best of its abilities, to South Africa. Although South Africa is now an Upper Middle Income country, development assistance to this country will continue over the years to come and will focus on education, employment and on enhancing the state's capacity to provide its citizens with services. An important part of this support will be directed towards civil society and towards enhancing synergy and cooperation between Government and civil society. In addition, the European Investment Bank, will continue its support with highly competitive loans to facilitate social and economic development while also the 28 EU Member States, 22 of which are represented here in South Africa, are providing support to South Africa’s policies as laid down in the National Development Plan Vision 2030. A variety of dialogues between the EU and South Africa in support reform; areas covered by these dialogues include education, health, energy, the environment, macro economic policies, human rights and peace and security including maritime security. To assist in the further development of higher education, the Erasmus Mundus Programme will support people-to- people as well as institution-to-institution relations, an impressive 700 South African graduate students and academics are participating in this programme so far. As important as aid is, trade and investment remain crucial for a better future for all South Africans. Trade and investment relations between South Africa and the EU are solid, with South Africa’s exports to the EU steadily increasing and now at 23% of total exports, more than compensating, if you like, for a small decline of European exports to South Africa which now stands at 28% of total South African imports. But even more important is that 50% of South Africa’s exports to the European Union consist of manufactured goods, which contribute directly to beneficiation and employment. Agro-food exports have done exceeding well recently, including wine and citrus, and if the joint fight of the EU and South Africa against Citrus Black Spot will yield further results, new record levels of exports will be attained, with the sky, ladies and gentlemen being our only limit. To further strengthen trade and investment, the EU and our partners in the southern SADC Region have agreed on a full Economic Partnership Agreement that will provide for South Africa even further improved access to the EU market of more than 500 million consumers. But the EPA is only one among many other instruments to promote trade and investment between the EU and South Africa. Also the annual EU South Africa Business Forum and the recently established Euro Chamber, based on the active cooperation between the chambers of commerce of the member states of the European Union, are examples of crucial elements in our trade relations. There is much work to do, both in South Africa and in the European Union. Jobs will need to be created, growth will need to be increased, peace and security will need to be enhanced dramatically and, possibly above all, the EU and South Africa will need to stand shoulder to shoulder to fight xenophobia in our societies and work towards a world in which people are no longer so desperate that they trust their lives to criminals to cross seas, desserts and borders in a too often disastrous attempt to provide their children with a better future. CONCLUSION Let me therefore conclude, ladies and gentlemen, by stressing that Europe and South Africa are partners in many fields and will have to be partners in many fields. South Africa's very strong performance in programmes of scientific cooperation with the EU, our close cooperation to further peace, security, development and democracy, our strong ties in the fields of environment and climate change, are just a few of the many examples of the EU and South Africa walking together, thereby adding strength to an international community that faces ever increasing challenges. Ladies and gentlemen, it is a great privilege to live and work in this beautiful country in this fascinating period of its history. And it is also a great privilege to have here today with us a Minister who leads the way in many fields and a Minister who has greatly contributed to what is a true flagship of South African EU cooperation; science and technology. No need to fall back on diplomatic niceties; it is the Minister's personal leadership, commitment and engagement that has made science and technology such a central piece of what South Africa and the EU stand for.