European Union welcomed the election of first female leader of the African Union elected during the 19th Ordinary Session of the AU Summit. During the Summit the European Union was represented by Mr. Nick Westcott, Managing Director for Africa in the European External Action Service (EEAS) and Ms. Francesca Mosca European Commission Director for Cooperation for Sub Saharan Africa & ACP

 

On the Congratulation message released by European Commission President Barroso on the election of Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma as the first female Chairperson of the African Union Commission on July 17, 2012 said "I would like to congratulate Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma for her election as the first female Chairperson of the African Union Commission.

 

In recent years, the Africa-EU Strategic Partnership, a partnership of equals, has grown ever stronger across a wide range of areas such as Peace and Security, Democracy and Human Rights, Trade and Infrastructure, Climate Change and Environment, and economic and social development across the board.

 

I look forward to further reinforcing our partnership with the African Union Commission under the leadership of Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.

 

I would also like to take this opportunity to warmly thank outgoing Chairperson, Dr Jean Ping, for his outstanding work in taking the AU forward over the past four years, and extend my best wishes to him for the future."

 

On the sidelines of the AU summit, Mr Nick Westcott met UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson, Hailemariam Desalegn Deputy Prime Minster of Ethiopia and participated in the 4^th Ordinary session of IGAD council of Ministers and the AU Executive council meeting.

 

Ms. Francesca Mosca in her meeting with AU Peace and Security Commissioner Ramtane Lamamra discussed the current security concerns of parts of Africa and the way Africa- EU partnership can support in resolving it.

 

Ms. Mosca also held a meeting with the Secretary General of the East African Community (EAC) and Chairman of the Inter-Regional Coordinating Committee (IRCC), Dr Richard Sezibera, on current cooperation programmers and future perspectives for EU – EAC and IRCC cooperation.