EU and Africa call for deeper ties

European and African leaders from 80 states called for deeper political, economic and investment ties at the opening of the European Union-African summit earlier this month. German Chancellor Angela Merkel called for “a new approach” at the start of the European Union-African two-day summit in Brussels, Belgium, saying it was important for European countries to see the opportunities on the continent, and not always just the problems. Merkel and French President Francois Hollande gave a joint press conference after the first day’s talks in Brussels, with Hollande saying: “Together, we can make progress.” Merkel said Germany and France wanted to be the “engine of collective development” for the EU’s broader engagement in Africa. “Our neighbouring continent, Africa, is gaining greater significance,” Merkel said, calling for cooperation to entail “more trade, more investment and more empowerment – so that African problems can also be solved by Africans themselves.” Liberian president, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, called for European countries to “give the African Development Bank funding programme its fullest support”. “I hope the summit will mark a new stage in our relationship with Africa,” European Council (EC) president Herman Van Rompuy said, adding it was time for a “shift from development cooperation to a partnership of equals.” INSERT Germany and France want to be the engine of collective development for the EU’s broader engagement in Africa. CAPTION 1 German Chancellor Angela Merkel, arrives at the EU-Africa Summit in Brussels. CAPTION 2 Delegates from 80 European and African states at the EU- Africa Summit in Brussels.