Europe Day 2020

08.05.2020

This year, the European Union Delegation to Namibia celebrates Europe Day with an online quiz.
For more, check our Social media pages :
FACEBOOK PAGE: DELEGATION OF THE EUROPEAN UNION TO NAMIBIA;
INSTAGRAM PAGE: EUinNam;
TWITTER PAGE @EU2Namibia

 

Group photo

"We are stronger together"

In Brussels, across EU Member States and around the world, Europe Day on 9 May is an occasion to celebrate peace and unity in Europe. The event also marks the 70th anniversary of the historical 'Schuman Declaration', which was presented by French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman on this date in 1950. At a speech in Paris, Schuman set out his idea for a new form of political cooperation in Europe, which would eliminate the possibility of war between European countries. Today, more than ever the EU's values and objectives remain steadfast and strong and we are committed to work together to bring hope for a better future in solidarity. We are implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement to bring development for all and to help better equip the world for future systemic shocks. We dedicate our action in protecting human rights and in promoting democracy, to help those in need and to prevent social exclusion as well as to support creating equal opportunities for all.  We are committed to collaborate towards building a safer world for all.

This year, the COVID-19 pandemic poses unprecedented challenges for societies all around the world. As the virus does not discriminate between people and knows no borders, this historic crisis requires a fast and coordinated global response to protect people, save lives and to tackle the economic fallout. Now is the time for international solidarity and leadership, not isolation; to reach out internationally, to be transparent and provide facts to counter disinformation; to support a true multilateralism. The European Union (EU) as the world's largest donor and a leading economic power is already at the forefront of this effort. The EU supports international cooperation and multilateral solutions in this crisis. We are taking a leadership role in the coordination efforts undertaken by the United Nations, the G20, the G7, the International Labour Organization and international financial institutions. The EU will also put its full weight behind the UN Secretary General's efforts to coordinate UN-wide response. The EU's response follows a ‘Team Europe' approach, aimed at saving lives by providing quick and targeted support to our partners to face this pandemic. It combines resources from the EU, its Member States and financial institutions, in particular the European Investment Bank.

The European Union global response to support partner countries' efforts in tackling the Coronavirus Pandemic address both the immediate health crisis and humanitarian needs, countries' preparedness to deal with the pandemic as well as intends to mitigate the socio-economic impact of the pandemic. The EU secured financial support to partner countries amounting to more than Euro 15.6 billion to this work. In the context of Namibia, the European Union and its member states have earmarked N$172 million (€8.400.000) as additional budget support to support the Namibian Government in its response to the pandemic. Furthermore as part of an ongoing programme to support Early Childhood Development N$ 7.2 million (€350,000) is foreseen to support children and their families in communities that are hardest hit by the Covid-19 lockdown.

The European Union and Africa are longstanding strategic partners, whose prosperity and security are closely interlinked. It is time to take the partnership between Africa and Europe to a new level. Both Africa and European Union want to create decent jobs, manage human mobility, drive digital innovation, and reconcile economic growth and the environment, in line with the SDGs. Both are hard at work on a new comprehensive strategy and our goal is to take our cooperation to a new level, which will be the core of the Africa-Europe Summit slated for later this year.

The European Union and its Member States cooperate with Namibia to support the country's National Development Plans and programme for SDGs in education, agriculture and livestock development, environment and natural resource management, gender based violence and protection of cultural heritage. The Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the EU and ACP countries promotes ACP-EU trade and ultimately to contribute through trade and investment to sustainable development and poverty reduction. We encourage Namibia to fully utilize the opportunities available under the EPA for the   implementation of which €6 million has been made available to Namibia.

The EU remains committed to support Namibia as a reliable partner now and in the future! 

"Bringing hope for a better future in solidarity"


See also

-
EU Delegation to Namibia, Windhoek