The EU and Angola signed an agreement to allocate ten million euros to support the formalization of the economy

The European Union (EU) and the Angolan government signed this Sunday in Luanda the payment of a first fixed contribution of ten million euros to support the formalization of the economy.

The agreement, signed within the framework of the 6th EU-Angola “Joint Path” ministerial meeting by Angolan Minister of Economy and Planning Mario Caetano João and EU Representative to Angola Rosario Bento Pais, also includes support for social protection and public financial management.

Speaking to the press, Portuguese Foreign Minister João Gomes Cravinho, who co-chaired the meeting on behalf of the European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, called the meeting fruitful and important. use for parties.

According to João Gomes Craviño, the meeting was an opportunity to take stock of what has been “extremely fruitful cooperation” between Angola and the EU in recent years and to look ahead to the future.

“At this meeting we can note some innovative developments in relations between Angola and the EU. I am referring, for example, to the agreement to promote sustainable investment, a memorandum of understanding recently agreed between the EU, Angola and other development partners. Corredor do Lobito and other partners,” he said.

In addition to taking note of these latest developments, João Gomes Craviño stressed, the range of issues covered by the “rich and dense relationship” between the EU and Angola and the parties’ views on international and regional dynamics in the African region were also analyzed. continent were common, in particular the situation in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRCongo), the Central African Republic (CAR) and others.

“And also international circumstances that concern us all, namely what is the result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine,” he added.

João Gomes Craviño, asked to comment on the growing United States of America (USA) interest in investment in Angola beyond the oil sector, said the African country’s attractiveness as a destination for US investment was seen as “something extremely positive”. for the Angolan economy, as well as for European investors interested in Angola.”

In turn, Angolan Foreign Minister Tete Antonio said that the sixth ministerial session is an expression of the “quantitative leap” that has been made in relations between Angola and the EU.

“We welcome this mechanism, which is a specific mechanism for the Republic of Angola, this qualitative leap is demonstrated by the facts that the Minister has just mentioned, as well as by the quality of our conversations and the complete harmony every time we meet, and especially this Sunday we have considered aspects, related to our bilateral cooperation,” he said.

The head of Angolan diplomacy emphasized that regional issues were reviewed, as well as the efforts that Angola has made in the regions in which it is located, especially regarding the search for peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic, as well as the threats of terrorism and changing institutional problems that also affect the African continent .

“The Angolan side also, with regard to South Africa, in its capacity as President of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), recalled the concerns of President João Lourenço regarding the issue of sanctions against Zimbabwe, as it concerns us and we encourage dialogue to continue with a view to lifting these sanctions,” – he said.

Tete Antonio emphasized that this issue has been the subject of dialogue not only in bilateral meetings with the EU, but also within the framework of the partnership with SADC, and that we intend to continue to work towards achieving this outcome.