South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa to address European Parliament
The President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, will address MEPs in a formal sitting in Strasbourg on Wednesday at 11:30.
EU-South Africa strategic relations and cooperation, peace and security in Africa, development and trade and the priorities for the upcoming seventh EU-South Africa summit in Brussels on 15 November are likely to be among the issues addressed during Mr Ramaphosa’s first official visit to the European Parliament. He will also be the first South African President to deliver a speech in the House since his predecessor Thabo Mbeki did so in November 2004.
2018 further marks the centenary of the birth of former South African President Nelson Mandela, who in 1994 became the country’s first black head of state following the dismantling of the oppressive apartheid regime.
Background
Mr Ramaphosa assumed his office in February 2018, replacing Jacob Zuma. He previously served as Deputy President of South Africa. The European Union is currently South Africa’s biggest trade and investment partner. Since 1999, trade relations between the EU and South Africa are set out under the bilateral Trade Development and Cooperation Agreement (TDCA).
Debate: Wednesday, 14 November
Procedure: Formal sitting