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.

    SAPA quoted the statement issued by the South Africa Department of Foreign Affairs as saying that EU welcomed South Africa's recent participation in the EU Framework Programs for Research where South African researchers are participating in more than 170 projects.

    At the summit, both sides appreciated the successful outcome of the side event on "Water Research for Sustainable Development" and agreed on the main orientations to strengthen research cooperation, also in support of the Science, Information Society and Space Partnership of the Africa-EU Joint Strategy and the new South African Development Community Science and Technology Protocol.

    EU and South Africa agreed to pave the way for enhanced customs cooperation and to start with the launch of a customs cooperation project in order to share best practices on a wide range of issues, including the implementation of the World Customs Organization's SAFE Framework of Standards, SAPA said.

    The leaders of South Africa and EU also exchanged views on the current situation in Zimbabwe at the summit. They further stressed the need to create an environment conductive for democracy.

    South Africa stressed the need for all to respect the right of the Zimbabwean people to determine their future free of outside interference and that the most urgent task now is to assist the leadership of Zimbabwe across the political divide to negotiate an agreement that will help Zimbabwe solve its challenges.

    At the summit, the EU welcomed the commitment by South African President Thabo Mbeki to facilitate the negotiation process between the parties, with a view to reaching an early and successful outcome. They called on the Zimbabwean parties to act with urgency and cooperate in good faith towards the successful conclusion of the negotiations.

    Both South Africa and EU reaffirmed their commitment to the stability and integrity of Sudan. They called for the speedy deployment of the United Nations/ Africa Union Mission in Darfur to end the suffering of the people of Darfur.