Euro-African to boost Economic and social development in Africa

Egyptian Assistant Foreign Minister for African Affairs, Ibrahim Ali Hassan led Egypt's delegation to the Euro-African meetings at the experts level recently held in Brussels, the European commission headquarters.

Hassan said that the meetings acquired special significance as it is the first of is kind after the Euro-African summit previously held in Cairo.

The participants probed fostering cooperation to realize economic integration and development as well as means of eliminating existing epidemics and diseases in the African countries.

Additionally , they discussed means to prevent flaring up of disputes, solving debt problems and ensuring food security.

Hassan pointed out that discussions also tackled three issues including the situation in the Greater Lakes region, the transformation of the African Unity Organization (AUO) to the African Union and the African initiative for cooperation and dialogue with the G-8 industrial countries.

Hassan added that a preparatory meeting at the foreign ministers' level is scheduled to be held in Burkina Faso next year, ahead of convening the second European African Summit in Portugal in the year 2003.