BRUSSELS, July 25 (Xinhua) -- A summit between the European Union and South Africa in Bordeaux, France enhanced bilateral ties as it announced the African country a true strategic partner, a news release from the commission said on Friday.

    "This is a historic day for relations between the EU and Africa, and especially for our relations with South Africa," said President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso.

France's President Nicolas Sarkozy (C) and European Commission President Manuel Barroso (R) welcomes his South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki at the start of the EU-South-Africa summit in Bordeaux July 25, 2008.  (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    "This summit is proof that our relations are no longer limited to trade and development aid," he added, saying that the first ever summit indicated that the two sides "have established a genuine partnership based on mutual respect and willingness to work together in a wide range of areas."

    Barroso also asked South Africa for cooperation on Zimbabwe.

    Louis Michel, Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, noted: "Our strategic partnership with South Africa offers enormous opportunities to obtain concrete results for our citizens both at the intensification of trade relations as investment or trade between our societies."

France's President Nicolas Sarkozy (R) welcomes his South African counterpart Thabo Mbeki at the start of the EU-South-Africa summit in Bordeaux July 25, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    "Beyond our borders also, the instrument should help bring peace, stability and prosperity, and to address global challenges posed by rising prices of food and energy, or the climate change," Michel added.

    Topics on the agenda of the one-day summit include creating an environment conducive to business, climate change, immigration, Zimbabwe, cooperation for peace and security, food safety and the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs).

    Rotating President of the EU Council Nicolas Sarkozy and South African President Thabo Mbeki also attended the summit.

    South Africa and the EU have concluded a strategic partnership in November 2006. To ensure its implementation, both parties have adopted an action plan in May 2007 to intensify political dialogue and cooperation and strengthen cooperation in a wide range of economic, social and others. 

EU-S. Africa Summit eyes closer bilateral co-op

    JOHANNESBURG, July 25 (Xinhua) -- The EU-South Africa Summit held in Bordeaux, France recognized the multidimensional challenges of migration and the need to cooperate on addressing these challenges, the South African Press Association (SAPA) reported on Friday.

    Both EU and South Africa agreed that migration requires a global approach and welcomed the idea to establish a structured dialogue, covering issues such as legal and illegal migration, including admission rules and respecting dignity and rights of migrants, capacity building as well as the linkages between migration and development, SAPA quoted the South African Department of Foreign Affairs as saying. Full story

South Africa, EU broaden co-op scale

    JOHANNESBURG, July 25 (Xinhua) -- South Africa and the European Union (EU) agreed to increase coordination and cooperation on peace and security through regular meetings between the EU Political and Security Committee and South Africa, the South African Press Association (SAPA) reported on Friday.

    The EU-South Africa Summit held in Bordeaux, France identified energy, space, transport, health, ICT, migration and social dialogue as possible areas for enhanced bilateral cooperation in the future. Full story