European Council President António Costa has praised South Africa for what he described as strong leadership and remarkable progress in advancing commitments made during the Cape Town summit eight months ago. Costa spoke in Johannesburg on Thursday during a press briefing held after a meeting between European Union leaders President Ursula von der Leyen and President Cyril Ramaphosa ahead of the G20 summit.
Costa said the South African government had shown firm dedication to meeting its partnership responsibilities. “It is very impressive, the capacity that you show to translate into concrete projects what we have agreed on and our ambitious common partnership,” he said. He added that this work demonstrated an ability to convert commitments into sustainable progress.
The European Council President thanked Ramaphosa for what he called South Africa’s significant role in global affairs during an era of political and economic realignment. “My second word is to thank President Ramaphosa and South Africa for their very strong global leadership,” Costa said. He said that cooperation between regions had become more important than ever, stating that “We are living in a multipolar world, and in this multipolar world, we need to engage and strengthen the relationships between the different poles of this world.”
Costa said Africa is central to the future of global development and described South Africa as a leading power on the continent. He said the G20 summit in Johannesburg offers a key platform for international cooperation. “The G20 meeting is a great opportunity to gather people from all around the world, to come here, and to sit at the table, to discuss and to listen to each other, to bring new proposals, and to try to tackle the global challenges that we need to face together,” he said.
Costa highlighted climate change inequality and poverty as the main global challenges requiring collective commitment. He said the partnership between the EU and South Africa is founded on shared values and a joint commitment to multilateral cooperation. “Our partnership is based on shared values, mutual respect, and a commitment to democracy, multilateralism, and a fairer, more sustainable world,” Costa said.
He expressed support for South Africa’s G20 leadership theme of solidarity equality and sustainable development. “You have chosen as a motto Solidarity, Equality and Sustainable Development. The EU fully embraces your priorities,” he said. Costa said these priorities reflect principles that guide both South Africa and the EU in global engagements.
He also underlined the need for reforms in global institutions including the United Nations and financial bodies. According to Costa, these institutions must be renewed to reflect present day international realities. He said the upcoming EU Africa Summit in Luanda will further strengthen cooperation between the two regions. “Our two continents are bound by a unique partnership. It is robust. It is dynamic. And it is looking to the future,” he said.
Costa said he looked forward to welcoming Ramaphosa and Angolan President João Lourenço at the summit in Luanda next week. He ended his remarks by thanking South Africa for hosting the G20 and wishing the country well as the summit prepares to start.
