Press Release: South Africa – EU Summit, Pretoria, 18 July 2013

The 6th South Africa-EU Summit was held in Pretoria, South Africa, on 18 July 2013. The EU was represented by Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council, and by José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission. The Republic of South Africa was represented by President Jacob Zuma. Commissioner for Development Andris Piebalgs and Commissioner for Trade Karel De Gucht also attended the Summit.

It took place on Nelson Mandela's International Day and was the occasion for Presidents Van Rompuy and Barroso to pay tribute, together with President Zuma, to one of the greatest moral and political leaders of our time.

Ahead of the Summit the European Union approved on the 17 July 2013 a ground-breaking €100 million programme to support infrastructure development, through an innovative grant-loan blending mechanism, for South Africa and the region.

The Infrastructure Investment Programme for South Africa will be used to leverage investments from development finance institutions in areas identified by the country itself which were in deep need of financing.

ESO: Background Information: Press Release: European Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht on visit to Kenya, Namibia, Botswana and South Africa http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-european-trade-commissioner-karel-de-gucht-on-visit-to-kenya-namibia-botswana-and-south-africa/

European Commission:, MEMO/13/686: EU-South Africa relations http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-13-686_en.htm

EurActiv, 18.07.13: EU pledges €100m infrastructure aid as South African summit opens http://www.euractiv.com/development-policy/eu-stumps-100m-infrastructure-ai-news-529356

European Commission: RAPID: Press Release, IP/13/712: EU to support infrastructure development in South Africa and the region http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-13-712_en.htm

European Commission: DG Trade: Policy: Countries and Regions: South Africa http://ec.europa.eu/trade/policy/countries-and-regions/countries/south-africa/

EEAS: EU Around the Globe: Countries: South Africa http://eeas.europa.eu/south_africa/

European Commission, SPEECH/13/652: Speech - Opening remarks of President José Manuel Barroso at the 6th EU – South Africa Summit http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-13-652_en.htm

European Commission, SPEECH/13/649: Statement by President Barroso following the EU-South Africa Summit in Pretoria http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-13-649_en.htm

European Council: Press Release, PRES/13/338: Remarks by President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy following the 6th EU-South Africa Summit http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/ec/138155.pdf

Website: European Council: 6th EU-South Africa summit in Pretoria, 18 July 2013 http://www.european-council.europa.eu/the-president/summits-with-third-countries?meeting=14759fe4-74ca-48f5-bb5e-0c3ab6bbe2a5&lang=en&type=SummitsWithThirdCountries

European Council: Press Release, PRES/13/340: Sixth South Africa-European Union Summit Joint Communiqué Pretoria, 18 July 2013 http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/ec/138179.pdf

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