Prime Minister Orpo at EU-AU Summit: “Deepening the economic partnership between the EU and African countries is an important goal for Finland’s export sectors”

Prime Minister Petteri Orpo represented Finland at the seventh EU-African Union (AU) Summit in Luanda, Angola on 24 and 25 November. The summit was attended by heads of state or government from both continents and by President of the European Council António Costa and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen from the European side.

“Africa is an important, close neighbour to Europe and its strategic, geopolitical and commercial importance continues to grow. The EU is Africa’s most important trading partner and its largest source of direct foreign investment. Establishing a trade agreement between the EU and Africa is an important future goal,” said Prime Minister Orpo in his speech at the summit.

In his speech, Prime Minister Orpo also highlighted the importance of the multilateral system and especially the role of the UN. 

“Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine reminds us Finns of our own history. Russia’s aggression against Ukraine is a threat to peace and security, not just in Europe but worldwide,” Prime Minister Orpo said.

“It is our duty to see that aggression and suffering do not become the new norm. Respect for the UN Charter and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states is in our common interest,” said Prime Minister Orpo.

Prime Minister Orpo also expressed his support for the African countries’ bid to gain two permanent seats on the UN Security Council. 

In connection with the summit, Prime Minister Orpo had bilateral meetings with President of Kenya William Ruto and Mozambique's President Daniel Chapo. Orpo also met with the leaders of several EU Member States, including Federal Chancellor of Germany Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron.

The Luanda summit celebrated the 25th anniversary of multilateral relations between the EU and Africa. At the summit, the leaders adopted a wide-ranging joint declaration on partnership and cooperation between the EU and the AU. The leaders also reaffirmed their support for the Joint Vision for 2030 declaration adopted at the previous summit in 2022.

A Youth and Civil Society Forum was held in connection with the summit. Finnish Youth Delegate Alma Jokinen also attended the summit’s session as part of Prime Minister Orpo’s delegation.

During the meeting, the Finnish development financier and impact investor Finnfund and the European Commission announced the EU Finnfund Global Guarantee programme, which aims to mobilise EUR 2 billion in investments in the digital sector.

Inquiries: Tuomas Tikkanen, Senior Adviser to the Prime Minister in European Affairs, tel. +358 40 523 5768, Marja Koskela, Diplomatic Adviser, tel. +358 295 160 978 and Anne Sjöholm, Head of Communications for EU and International Affairs, tel. +358 40 537 07 33