The 16th Ministerial Political Dialogue (MPD) between South Africa and the European Union commenced in Cape Town, co-chaired by South African Minister of Foreign Affairs Ronald Lamola and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas. The meeting, held on [Date - Infer from text: approximately February 2024], focused on strengthening bilateral relations and the EU's support for South Africa's G20 presidency.
Minister Lamola emphasized the need for continued EU development assistance to address internal challenges and diversify international development partners. High Representative Kallas reiterated the EU's support for South Africa's leadership in the G20 agenda and highlighted the strategic importance of the relationship for democracy, human rights, and sustainability. She confirmed the EU-South Africa summit scheduled for March 13 in Pretoria, strongly supported by Presidents Costa and Von der Leyen.
The dialogue underscored the mutual interest in close collaboration and the EU's commitment as a reliable partner for South Africa. The outcomes of this meeting are expected to contribute to enhanced cooperation on global issues and further solidify the strategic partnership between South Africa and the European Union.