GENDER EQUALITY, FOOD SECURITY AND YOUTH PARTICIPATION TOPS PAN-AFRICAN PARLIAMENT AND EUROPEN PARLIAMENT MEETING

Story by: Gilbert Borketey Boyefio

Gender equality, food security, peace and security and youth participation in decision-making were top on the agenda when thePan-African Parliament (PAP) and the European Parliament (EP) met in Brussels from the 8-9 December, 2022.  

The two continental Parliamentary bodies consulted on ways to achieve gender equality and empowerment of women and girls, as a vital tool for building just, inclusive, prosperous and peaceful societies. The meeting is also sought to respond to the urgent food security and nutrition needs and prevent anyone from using access to food as a weapon of war.

Additionally, Parliamentarians from both sides were expected to come up with a concrete roadmap to improve youth participation in decision-making and create new opportunities for the generation that suffered the most from the Covid-19 pandemic. Finally, the meeting is expected to make proposals for peaceful resolutions of African conflicts along the lines of the principles of African solutions to African problems.

Speaking at the meeting, the President of the legislative arm of the African Union, H.E Hon. Chief Fortune Charumbira, indicated that the cooperation between the Pan-African Parliament and the European Parliament is based on parity and mutual benefit.

He emphasized that “The cooperation is anchored on the Joint Africa-EU Strategy (JAES) which is the blueprint of the strategic partnership between Africa and Europe, and it entails political visions and a roadmap for cooperation in areas of mutual interest to the two continents.”

According to the European Parliament Chair of the delegation for relations with the Pan-African Parliament, Ms. Soraya Rodriguez Ramos MEP, “This meeting is a clear sign of our strong commitment to strengthening the relations between both Parliaments. Parliamentary cooperation is of utmost importance to enhance the EU-AU partnership and jointly face current global challenges including the food security crisis, climate change and conflicts, I look forward to the work between the EP and the PAP on how we can work together and make things move forward.”

The current cooperation between the Pan-African Parliament, the European Union, and the European Parliament, respond to policy priorities as set out in Joint Africa – EU Strategy (JAES) adopted at the Lisbon Summit in 2007, the Joint Communication 'for a renewed impetus of the Africa-EU Partnership’ adopted in May 2017 and more specifically, it responds to the Abidjan Declaration agreed at the 5th AU-EU Summit from 29-30 November 2017, which foresees to pursue cooperation on effective, inclusive and accountable governance at all levels, particularly among the African Governance Architecture platform members, of which the Pan-African Parliament stands out.