David McAllister MEP: Opening Remarks with the President of Zambia, H.E. Hakainde Hichilema (Lusaka, 21 December 2023)

Good morning!

My name is David McAllister and I chair the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament. I have the pleasure and the honour of heading a delegation of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament to Lusaka. Our visit takes place in the broader context of the European Parliament’s interest to listen and to engage with partners on the African continent. Earlier this week we visited neighbouring Malawi.

I am accompanied by three of my fellow colleagues, Members of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament: Vice-Chair Željana ZOVKO (EPP, HR), Michael GAHLER (EPP, DE) and Tonino PICULA (S&D, HR).

I highly appreciate this opportunity to address you, Your Excellency. Our partnership with Zambia as a like-minded country is of key importance.

Our visit to Lusaka takes place just one month after the signing of the SAMOA agreement and its high ambitions in key areas. The European Parliament is aware how dense the relationship between Zambia and the EU is, and supports this as we are entering into new fields of engagement to support the development of your country.

Zambia is one of the key partners of the European Union in Southern Africa also due to its current chairmanship of the SADC Organ on Politics, Security and Defence and its active role in COMESA. We regard Zambia as an important partner to uphold and reinvigorate the rules-based international order.

Our partnership is solution-oriented and forward-looking. We strongly emphasise our support for the principle ‘African solutions to African problems’. Europe and Africa need each other to build a solid and lasting response to global common challenges.

This is one of the reasons why the EU warmly welcomes that the African Union has joined the G20, which is greatly appreciated by the European Union and its Member States who were among the first ones to support the integration of the African Union within the G20.

Please let me further highlight a few topics:

– The Russian war of aggression against Ukraine has been raging in Europe for more than a year now. The complex geopolitical reality of today requires us to work together towards strengthening the multilateral rules-based order.We recognise and appreciate our shared values and partnership in multilateral forums, demonstrating that Zambia and EU are committed to facing global challenges together. Zambia’s clear stance on the Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine in the United Nations General Assembly is extremely important.

– The consequences of this brutal war are felt all around the world. The energy and food crises, inflation and consequent soaring prices are the most evident and direct result, felt very strongly here in African countries. The EU has supported and continues to support Zambia in mitigating these negative impacts, to combat food insecurity and to grow its economy.

– The EU is well aware of the security situation in the region. The threats to stability, security and democracy that some countries in the region face are of serious concern to us. Our interests converge on the need to prevent spill over effects to stable countries in the region. We acknowledge the active contribution of SADC in upholding international standards, and we recognise the positive role by Zambia in its Chairmanship of the Organ on Politics, Security and Defence. We are concerned about the instability in the DRC and commend Zambia for organising the SADC election observation mission.

– The EU wants to work with Zambia to ensure a prosperous future for Zambian citizens. Supporting Zambia in reforming its economy is key. We are watching closely the negotiations on the debt restructuring and hope for the swift conclusion so that Zambia can turn the page and continue its economy.

– Finally, I would like to underline the resumption of budget support to Zambia and the commitments made under Global Gateway. The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on sustainable raw materials and the Lobito corridor, is a clear example of the deepening of our relationship and the EU’s support to infrastructure investments in Africa.

Yesterday afternoon we had the pleasure to exchange views with the Minister of Defence, His Excellency Mr Ambrose Lwiji Lufuma, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Mr Stanley Kakubo.

I am honoured that this morning we have the opportunity to meet with your Excellency, and later the Speaker of the National Assembly, followed by discussions with Members of the National Assembly. This afternoon, we will meet think tanks and civil society representatives.  

To conclude, let me express gratitude to our Zambian hosts for their hospitality and productive meetings.

Now I am looking forward to a fruitful discussion with your Excellency.

Thank you.