Tarpparlamentiniai susitikimai

The 26th EU-South Africa Inter-parliamentary Meeting (IPM) took place on 31 October - 1 November 2018 in Cape Town, and was co-chaired by Hans van Baalen (EU) and Joan Fubbs (South Africa).

The discussions covered a wide range of topics, including the strategic cooperation between South Africa and the EU in the wake of the seventh South Africa - EU Summit, which took place on 15 November 2018, the forthcoming elections on both sides, the implementation of the Economic Partnership Agreement, trade issues, the EU support to key sectors in South Africa (SA) such as education and health achievements.

The 25th EU-South Africa Inter-parliamentary Meeting (IPM) took place from Wednesday afternoon 18 April to Thursday morning 19 April 2018 in Strasbourg, and was co-chaired by Hans van Baalen (EU) and Joan Fubbs (South Africa).

There were discussions on a wide range of topics going from strategic cooperation between the EU and South Africa, the upcoming elections in South Africa, the potential impact of "Brexit" on EU relations with the rainbow nation, to the possibilities of overcoming water shortages, the status of Zimbabwean refugees in South Africa, translating into practice 21st century slavery and the Model Law on mining.

The discussion on the so-called "trade irritants" (mainly poultry and textiles) had the potential for a positive impact on EU - SA trade relations and may possibly help to overcome a long-lasting impasse on these two chapters.

The 24th South Africa-European Union Inter-Parliamentary Meeting (IPM) between Members of the South African Parliament and Members of the European Parliament, took place at the South African Parliament in Cape Town on 19-20 April 2017.

The discussions focused on the strategic, bilateral relationships between the EU and South Africa, broader issues of mutual interest between the two counterparts as well as Southern African Development Community economic and political developments.

The 23rd European Parliament-South Africa Inter-parliamentary Meeting (EP-SA IPM) took place from Wednesday afternoon 13 April to Thursday morning 14 April 2016 in Strasbourg, and was co-chaired by Hans van Baalen (EU) and Joan Fubbs (South Africa).

The discussions focused on a variety of subjects, from development, employment and education to agriculture and trade, from parliamentary representativity of citizens to migration, from regional and proxy conflicts to geopolitics, with special focus on Russia and China. Moreover, security issues for both regions were discussed, and the importance of fight against all forms of terrorism was underlined.

A joint statement was issued further to this meeting.

The 22nd South Africa-European Union Inter-Parliamentary Meeting (IPM) between Members of the South African Parliament and Members of the European Parliament took place at the Parliament of South Africa on 23 and 24 July 2015.

The objectives of the IPM were to:

• Use the EU-SA platform to share experiences and knowledge
• develop a sound Parliamentary position on Africa's and European Union's vision of regional integration, development and peace
• support the processes for a democratic developmental country
• strengthen relations with our traditional trade partners
• fulfill Parliament's oversight mandate of ensuring accountability to the people, and ensuring it remains their voice.

The 21st European Parliament-South Africa Inter-parliamentary Meeting took place from 8 to 10 October 2013 in Strasbourg and was co-chaired by Michael Cashman (EU) and Joan Fubbs (South Africa).

The discussions focused on the strategic bilateral relationship between the EU and South Africa and on broader issues in the EU and in the African continent as a whole, also providing an opportunity for an exchange of views on a number of global economic, development and geopolitical issues of mutual concern, such as:

• EU development cooperation with South Africa
• 6th EU-South Africa Summit held on 18 July 2013
• oversight role of the parliaments in the South Africa-EU Strategic Partnership
• post-2015 Development Agenda with universal goals and concrete commitments, including adequate funding, to eradicate poverty and promote sustainable development
• trade, including Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs)
• human rights

The 20th European Parliament / South Africa Inter-Parliamentary Meeting took place on 12 and 13 November 2012 in Brussels and was co-chaired by Michael Cashman (on the EU side) and Joan Fubbs (on the South African side).

The discussions focused on EU-South Africa (SA) bilateral relations and on a wide range of current economic and political issues in SA, the EU and globally. A joint statement was adopted at the end of the IPM.

Both delegations highlighted the excellent relations between the two parliaments. They agreed that it was essential to provide a more substantive role for parliamentarians in the institutional architecture of the SA-EU Strategic Partnership, including their participation in annual summits. The two delegations agreed to consider a joint support project with a view to establishing a mechanism for detailed monitoring and oversight of the implementation of the Strategic Partnership.

The South African Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and the EU, Mxolisi Nkosi, and the EU Ambassador to South Africa, Roeland van de Geer, also attended the IPM.