The European Parliament has maintained close contacts with the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) since the latter's creation in 2004. In 2006, the EP created the first ad-hoc delegation to the PAP. At the start of this 7th parliamentary term, the European Parliament decided to create a permanent inter-parliamentary delegation.
These two parliaments are in charge of monitoring the implementation of the Joint Africa-EU Strategy adopted in Lisbon in 2007. The aim of the Strategy is to deepen the relations between Africa and the EU, addressing global challenges together. In December 2007 the EP and the PAP organised a parliamentary pre-summit in Lisbon the day before the EU-Africa Summit and their Presidents were invited to deliver an address to the Heads of State and Government. Both delegations have met regularly in Brussels and Strasbourg as well as in Midrand (South Africa), where the PAP has its seat.
