Javier Solana, High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy and Secretary-General of the Council of the European Union (left) with the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Don McKinnon (right)
Secretary-General addresses Foreign Affairs Committee in European Parliament
12 September 2007
Commonwealth and European Union are partners in practice and principle
The Commonwealth Secretary-General addressed the Foreign Affairs Committee in the European Parliament on 12 September 2007 in Brussels, Belgium.
Don McKinnon highlighted the values and principles which unite the European Union (EU) and the Commonwealth.
“We both share the overarching principles of Democracy as the manner in which we seek to govern, and of Development – both human and economic – as one for the greatest dividends that Democracy can bring.”
The Secretary-General stated that Africa is where the EU and the Commonwealth can best achieve their shared aims.
“I call upon the EU to strengthen its own impact in Africa by making practical use of the breadth and depth of Commonwealth political and technical engagement in Africa.”
As well as effectively using the Commonwealth’s level of “access, trust, discretion and friendship in Africa,” Mr McKinnon’s speech also urged the EU to stand together with the Commonwealth over trade negotiations which can benefit Africa.
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