Background

On September 6 1994 the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the European Union (EU) signed the Berlin Declaration as an instrument to further relations between the two regions. Following this, SADC and the EU have held Ministerial Conferences to further this aim, the fifth being held in November this year.

The fourteen member countries of SADC and the EU are important trading partners. It is estimated that most SADC countries trade largely with the EU, more than with other SADC countries. Keeping in mind that SADC countries export about 50% of their gross domestic product, the importance of healthy trade relations with other regions is clear.

On average, the EU offers better market access for individual SADC countries and a lower tariff average than other SADC members. The EU is also often given preferential tariff rates for access to SADC markets. For instance, other SADC countries impose a 58% tariff on apparel from South Africa, where the tariff is 35% for apparel from the EU.

The EU is also currently in negotiations with thirteen SADC member states to establish Economic Partnerships Agreements (EPAs) with them. This follows the signing of the Cotonou Agreement between the EU and the group of African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) nations, of which these SADC countries are members. The fourteenth member state, South Africa, has its own Trade and Development Co-operation Agreement with the European Union.

Prior to this year’s Ministerial Conference, the SADC/EU Joint Steering Committee met on 4 and 5 November and a meeting of the SADC/EU Senior Officials took place on November 6.

In attendance

The Conference was attended by ministers from member states of SADC and the EU, the SADC Executive Secretary Dr Prega Ramsamy and the European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aids Poul Nielson. Representatives from the United Nations, non-governmental organisations and international co-operating partners from Africa, the Caribbean, America, Asia and Europe also attended the meeting.

The Conference was co-chaired by the Chairperson of the SADC Council of Ministers Dr Ana Dias Lourenco, also Angola’s Minister of Planning, and the President of the Council of the EU Bertel Haarder, also the Danish Minister for European Affairs.

The Conference was officially opened by Joaquim Chissano, President of Mozambique. Opening statements were also made by Lourenco, Haarder, Ramsamy and Nielson.