S&Ds host Africa Week in Brussels and call for focus on youth and the future of Africa
Date
Sections
Brussels, 21 September 2017
Next week Africa will be at the centre of the activities of the S&D Group and its partners, both from Africa and Europe.
From 25 - 28 September 2017, the S&D Group will organise its second “Africa Week” with a four-day programme including political debates, cultural activities, open discussions and workshops, art exhibitions and film screenings and many other events for meetings and exchanges.
This year´s Africa Week will address the theme “Youth and the Future of Africa” and will look at topics such as empowering women and young people, opportunities and challenges of digitisation, the role of education and fostering of entrepreneurship.
Speakers include leading politicians both from Africa and Europe, including S&D Group President Gianni Pittella and other S&D MEPs; Commission Vice-President & High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini; Ivorian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Marcel Amon-Tanoh; UN representatives, as well as African and European intellectuals, entrepreneurs, activists, journalists and artists.
The event is organised by the S&D Group in partnership with the Global Progressive Forum and in cooperation with ACP Young Professional Network (ACP YPN), BOZAR, Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS), Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES), International Union of Socialist Youth (IUSY), Party of European Socialists (PES), Party of European Socialists Women (PES Women), Rainbow Rose, SOLIDAR, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) and Young European Socialists (YES).
The full programme of the Africa Week is available here.
Commenting on the upcoming Africa Week, S&D Group President Gianni Pittella said:
“I am delighted to host our second Africa Week in Brussels. There is no other continent like Africa, with its vast diversity, cultural richness and exciting possibilities. During the next week we will take time to engage with African leaders and intellectuals, discuss, question and challenge ourselves about how we can work better together and empower the current and future generations to profit from the opportunities offered by the digital revolution.
“Of course we will also look at the problems Africa faces, ranging from extreme poverty to human rights violations, the need for effective development cooperation, tackling the root causes of the migration crisis and looking at security issues in light of recent terrorist attacks. Yet at the same time, we will look at the new opportunities of the digital age, with a particular focus on young people and women.
“These debates are highly relevant in the light of the upcoming African Union - EU Summit. We stand side by side with High-Representative Federica Mogherini in her call for a real partnership with Africa. Together we can make that happen”.
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