Press Release: Global crises to top discussions between EU and South Africa

European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, Louis Michel, will visit South Africa to participate in the EU-South Africa Ministerial Troika meeting on 15th and 16th January 2009. Together with Czech Foreign Minister Schwarzenberg on behalf of the EU Presidency, Commissioner Michel will hold discussions with South Africa on topics ranging from the international financial crisis, climate change, food security to new areas of cooperation such as energy or transport. The meeting will also be an opportunity to examine various crises situations in Africa and in the world, notably in Zimbabwe, the DRC and the Middle East. The event is part of the regular high-level dialogue the EU keeps with South Africa as emerging regional power and strategic partner of the EU.