EU praises Angola's diplomatic role in Africa

 Luanda - European Union has praised Angola's diplomatic role in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and Great Lakes regions.

The praise was made by the head of EU delegation in Angola, Jeannette Seppen while speaking to journalists on Friday in Luanda.

This was at the end of the meeting with the head of the Commission of Foreign Relations, International Cooperation and Angolan Communities Abroad of the National Assembly, Alcides Sakala Simões. 

The EU official stressed that her institution was "very impressed" by the "very important" role played by Angola in the region, in particular by President João Lourenço in pacification of the conflicts. 

"We are following up this role with great interest and admiration," said the EU diplomat. 

Ambassador Jeannette Seppe and her interlocutor reviewed the situation in the Eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the conflict in Ukraine, which she describes as important and very painful for the EU. 

Strengthening the Partnership with Angola 

The diplomat considered the partnership between the EU and Angola  increasingly stronger. 

She stressed the existing dialogue of European Union with all social class in the country,  as part of the partnership with Angolan Government.

To her, the National Assembly (the representative body of Angolans) is part of this inclusive dialogue between the EU and Angola. 

The Angolan government and the European Union (EU) recently signed in Luanda three funding agreements, estimated at 120.1 million euros, to implement new operational programmes of the government aimed at Human Capital and the Agribusiness sector. 

The amount was made available to fund the Multi-Year Programme (PIP), guaranteed for the 2021-2027 period, via the neighbourhood, development cooperation and international cooperation instrument. 

The partnership between Angola and the EU dates back to more than 35 years. The parties share the existing priorities in the Multi-Year Cooperation Programme with Angola, Economic Diversification, Human Capital Development, aspects that are also an EU priority.