Pretoria, South Africa, April 9, 2024/ –In response to recent misrepresentations by media outlets Bloomberg and News 24, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation of the Republic of South Africa and the Delegation of the European Union to South Africa issued a joint statement regretting the inaccuracies regarding the relationship between the two entities.
“We would like to reject the claim made by these media outlets that the Republic of South Africa has not responded to several requests by the European Union to hold a bilateral South Africa-European Union Summit during 2023,” the statement asserted.
The statement highlighted the ongoing efforts and engagements between South Africa and the EU throughout 2023, including a Ministerial Forum in South Africa and bilateral contacts at the Heads of State level.
Regarding the alleged delays to the summit, the statement refuted claims that such delays signal a negative trajectory for future relations between the EU and South Africa. “In fact,” the statement emphasized, “the above-mentioned regular high-level visits and engagements illustrate the strength, depth, and wide-ranging scope of the strategic partnership between the European Union and South Africa.”
The statement underscored the collaborative efforts undertaken, including bilateral meetings between officials such as Minister Dr. Naledi Pandor and High Representative Mr. Josep Borrell Fontelles, visits by Deputy Minister Mr. Botes to Brussels, and engagements between Director General Dangor and EU counterparts.
“In a decisive year for democracy and multilateralism across the world, South Africa and the European Union continue to work closely together,” the statement concluded, reaffirming their commitment to identifying a suitable date for their bilateral Summit.
The joint statement serves to dispel misconceptions and reaffirm the enduring partnership between South Africa and the European Union, grounded in cooperation and dialogue.
