It is a true pleasure to be here today in Cape Town, together with the President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. Together we have just concluded a highly successful EU-South Africa summit — the first one in seven years, but one that could not have come at a more crucial moment.
The world has changed significantly since our last meeting. We have faced a global pandemic and devastating conflicts — including Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the crisis in the Middle East, and dramatic conflicts on the African continent. In these turbulent times, trusted partnerships are more important than ever. The EU is, and will remain, a strong, reliable and predictable partner for South Africa.
Today’s discussions have reaffirmed the strength and depth of our enduring and strategic partnership — one built on shared values, mutual respect, and a commitment to democracy, multilateralism, and a fairer, more sustainable world.
We believe in strong multilateral institutions, a rules-based order, open dialogue, and global cooperation to tackle common challenges — whether in security, trade, climate action, or innovation. This summit has demonstrated that our partnership is not only strategic but also essential.
And we are fully committed to working together to strengthen our multilateral institutions by reforming them in a way that they are more representative, and also by reforming the international financial institutions to have a fairer world in the future.
To address global instability and insecurity, we have decided to launch a dedicated EU-South Africa Peace, Security, and Defence Dialogue. We reaffirm our commitment to supporting peace efforts in Ukraine, the occupied Palestinian Territories, Sudan, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and beyond.
In order to fight climate change, inequality, and poverty, today we have reaffirmed our commitment to the Paris Agreement, the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and the Pact for the Future. We need to act on this — not only for the well-being of today’s citizens but for future generations as well.
This is also a summit with concrete deliverables as the President Ramaphosa has stressed and certainly President von der Leyen will develop. I am confident that this partnership can be a driving force for global prosperity, a beacon for climate solutions, and a pillar of stability and security for the world.
As South Africa holds the G20 Presidency in 2025 — the first on African soil — I can assure you that the EU stands firmly behind your efforts to strengthen multilateralism and drive meaningful global action. We fully support your agenda, focused on solidarity, equality, and sustainable development. Wonderful words! The achievements of the G20 will be crucial not only for its members but for the rest of the world.
This summit has paved the way for even deeper cooperation and new opportunities for engagement. It is my hope that we will maintain the regularity of our summits.
And dear President Ramaphosa, thank you for your hospitality and for hosting this landmark summit. And we are waiting for you, next year, in Brussels. Thank you very much.