The Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, chairs the 7th Meeting of the Africa Bureau
The minister pointed out that this strategy "will mark the start of a new stage in relations between Spain and Africa based on an awareness that we share the same geopolitical space: we face challenges that we have to respond to and overcome together".
According to the minister, "we will do this through dialogue with our African partners and by making use of the best resources we have: Spanish civil society and the associations and entities that deal with Africa".
Albares also highlighted the important role played by the African Union and sub-regional structures in consolidating democracy and the rule of law in the region.
The minister also highlighted the efforts made during the Spanish presidency of the Council of the EU to strengthen relations between the European Union and African countries, including the Samoa Agreement, which succeeds the Cotonou Agreement and which will guide cooperation between the European Union and African, Caribbean and Pacific countries for the next twenty years, as well as the EU - Angola: Sustainable Investment Facilitation Agreement and the Economic Partnership Agreement with Kenya.
At this 7th Meeting of the Africa Bureau the implementation of the pilot plan for the coordination of actors and instruments for the promotion of Spanish business presence and investment in Senegal was discussed, the follow-up report on the Bureau's proposals on public policies for cultural and academic cooperation was presented, and the progress of the thematic consultation for the drafting of proposals on human mobility, migration and refuge was addressed.
The Africa Bureau is a platform for information exchange and coordination between the government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, and Spanish civil society actors interested in relations with Africa. Representatives from NGOs, the business sector, academia, the African diaspora and Afro-Spanish associations participate in the Bureau.
As representatives of civil society, OXFAM-INTERMON, Africa Activa, CEOE Internacional, the Exporters and Investors Club, the Spanish Chamber of Commerce, the African Complutense School, Fundación Alternativas and LemAfriq participated in the Africa Bureau.
Non official translation