Excellency, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cote d’Ivoire, Marcel Amon-Tanoh
Distinguished High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, Mme Frederica Mogherini
Excellencies, African and European Ministers,
Honourable Participants,

Let me begin by thanking the Government and people of the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire for hosting the 5th African Union-European Union Summit. Thank you for the excellent work put into the organization of this Summit and ensuring we have a serene and focused environment to conduct successful deliberations for the sake of our African youth.
I also thank the distinguished foreign ministers of Africa and Europe for taking the time out of their busy schedules to convene here for deliberation on our joint development, as well as peace and security, plans for the coming years.

I also thank the European Union Delegation for the significant efforts they invested preparations, deliberations and for the cooperative approach they have demonstrated throughout the process. This is a token of the growing strength of our relationship. The African Union is committed to deepening this relationship in a way that is mutually beneficial to both continents.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
The 5th AU-EU Summit organized under the theme: “Investing in Youth” is being held three years after the 4th Summit held in Brussels, in April 2014, where we adopted the Africa –EU partnership roadmap 2014 – 2017, under the theme: “Investing in People, Prosperity and Peace".

This reinforces our theme of the year for 2017, namely "Harnessing the demographic dividend through investments in youth", as well as our efforts to capitalize on Africa’s demographic buldge and invest in our youth to derive the dividend from this investment. Africa has the world’s largest proportion of young people. By 2100, the African young working population is projected to rise by 2.1 billion, thereby increasing Africa’s share in the world’s working age population to over 40 percent compared to the current 12 percent. This can be a crisis, or an opportunity. We intend to make it an opportunity.

Estimates show that capitalizing on the African demographic dividend could potentially add 500 billion dollars per year to its GDP. The real annual GDP per capita on the continent can increase up to 2000 dollars by 2050 compared to the current average of 600 dollars. This will represent a potentially significant improvement in the lives of the average African household. But this can happen only if we invest in education and training. This is the only way to develop human capital that is value which creates and increase this value. This is the classic definition of capital developed.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
This summit presents an opportunity for our Continent and its young people. We can no longer pay lip-service to dealing with the myriad of issues facing our youth. The AU and its Member States strive to create economic opportunities through regional integration, trade facilitation, and provision of an enabling investment environment. We also strive to enhance societal and political resilience on the Continent for the benefit of current and future generations. It is only through good governance and democracy and the rule of law that our strategic partnerships can render the relationship truly beneficial, notably that with the EU, can we achieve and deliver on those priorities. We believe that with our partnership with the EU , we can achieve and deliver on these priorities. Between Europe and Africa, our geographic proximity and long historical relationship, could be a great strategic advantage.

We have made significant progress in our partnership over the past two decades since it was forged in 2000. We have reinforced the capacities of conflict resolution and counter-terrorism. But challnges, undoubtedly remain. The slave trade is rearing its ugly head once again. We need to address this phenomenon totally and completely. We urge the ICC to take an interest in this development. Ensuring that such support is made predictable and sustainable requires the cooperation of key world actors, notably the UN and the EU.

We have also managed to make significant contributions to creation of economic opportunity through mobilizing investments in agriculture, energy, infrastructure, industry, ICT and other vital sector for Africa’s economy. We are encouraged by Mme Mogherini’s statements that the EU aims to mobilize over 40 billion euros in foreign direct investment in Africa over the coming years. We would like to be consulted on how this development is utilized. On this point, we would like to commend the German Presidency of G20, for its compact with Africa. Funding education and training for every African child could be a real game-changer and could be the solution to the migration phenomenal. We agree that the enabling investment environment is a key ingredient to realize those targets that can stand to improve the livelihoods of our youth.

We have worked together to enhance accession to, and domestication of, AU governance instruments, which stand to enhance stability and build strong institutions, not only for the benefit of Africa but the world at large. We also look forward to enhance the mobility and migration dialogue that should inform our policy making. In that regard, our focus will be on the best interest of young people in Africa and Europe through expanding their professional opportunities.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
At this point, I would like to thank the Senior Officials comprising representatives of member states of the African Union and European Union and both commissions for the pain-staking deliberations they have put into finalizing the outcome documents before this meeting today for adoption. Using the Joint Africa-EU Strategy (JAES) as the base, our focus for the coming years will continue to be on four key priority areas of cooperation: 1. Investing in people - education, science, technology and technology and skills development, 2. Strengthening resilience, peace, security and governance, 3. Mobilizing investments for Africa’s structural transformation, as well as 4. Migration and Mobility.

Finally, I wish us all a productive meeting. I believe that the rich and heartfelt discussions we will have will undoubtedly forge stronger bonds between Africa and Europe and result in a feasible and robust strategy to guide our partnership in the years to come.

I thank you.