Preparatory meeting examines draft final statement of Euro-African summit

The preparatory meeting for the Euro-African summit held in Cairo last week finalized the agenda and examined the draft final statement of the summit.

The agenda of the summit--to be held in Cairo next April 3-4-- will be topped by cooperation in matters of economy and investments, transfer of technology and African integration in world economy, the Egyptian deputy foreign minister in charge of African affairs, Ibrahim Hassan, told reporters in Cairo.

The summit will also look into political issues, mainly regarding security and stability, the consolidation of democracy, the role of the civil society, the issue of refugees and conflicts in the continent in addition to terrorism.

Struggle against poverty, the promotion of human resources, education, health and environment are among the other topics on the agenda.

Morocco took part for the first time in the preparatory meeting of the summit that was also attended by delegates of the European Union, Algeria, Burkina Faso, South Africa, Togo, Tunisia and Egypt, the summit host country.

Another preparatory meeting will be held March 17-21 in Lisbon --Portugal holding the European Union chairmanship-- and the summit will be preceded by a meeting of foreign ministers who will bring the final touches to the documents to be issued by the summit.

King Mohammed VI will take part in the summit to be attended by 67 African and European countries.