Cape Town, 19 February 2025 – South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Mr. Ronald Lamola, welcomed the European Union (EU) delegation to the 16th South Africa-European Union Ministerial Political Dialogue (MPD) in Cape Town. The meeting aimed to set the stage for the upcoming South Africa-EU Summit and was an opportunity for both regions to discuss a range of critical issues.
Lamola expressed gratitude to the EU for agreeing to host the dialogue in South Africa rather than Brussels, highlighting the significance of the face-to-face meeting. He also referenced recent high-level engagements, including conversations between Presidents Ramaphosa and Costa, as well as discussions between President Ramaphosa and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
The dialogue comes after several bilateral meetings between South African and EU leaders, notably a phone call between President Ramaphosa and President Costa earlier in February 2025. These talks have set the groundwork for a new investment package from the EU to South Africa, focusing on key areas such as science and technology, skills development, and environmental cooperation.
It is a great honour to host The EU- South Africa Ministerial Political Dialogue in Cape Town with @kajakallas The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the @Eu_Commission.
This meeting builds on the joint aspiration to… pic.twitter.com/lWBwpcuu4r
— Minister: International Relations and Cooperation (@RonaldLamola) February 19, 2025Lamola emphasized that South Africa, despite being a middle-income country, faces significant challenges, including high levels of poverty, unemployment, and inequality, particularly affecting women and youth. He noted that the EU’s development cooperation has been instrumental in supporting South Africa’s national priorities and expressed hope for continued assistance as the country works to diversify its international partnerships.
From a geopolitical standpoint, the meeting occurred during a period of growing global competition, particularly in trade and technology. Lamola stressed the importance of reforming global governance institutions, including the United Nations Security Council, to ensure that conflicts are resolved effectively. He also expressed concern about attacks on multilateral institutions that have traditionally played a key role in global peacekeeping efforts.
The discussions also covered regional security issues, with Lamola reaffirming South Africa’s commitment to resolving ongoing conflicts in Mozambique, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, and South Sudan. Additionally, tensions in the Middle East, particularly the threat to a proposed ceasefire, were also on the agenda.South Africa, EU Strengthen Ties at Cape Town Dialogue
