The recent fourth Africa-EU Summit, held in Brussels, Belgium, under the theme of Investing in Peace, Prosperity and People, marked the beginning of a turning point in Africa-Europe relations.

The summit represented an opportune moment to reposition this relationship in line with the ever-changing global environment and the expectations of both regions.

In the context of unprecedented economic growth in Africa and economic decline in Europe, the summit afforded African and European leaders the opportunity to exchange views in order to strengthen political and socio-economic cooperation.

The summit adopted the 2014-2017 Road Map which sets out five strategic priorities and identifies the means to implement them. These are peace and security, democracy, good governance and human rights human development sustainable and inclusive development and growth and continental integration; and global and emerging issues.

The Brussels summit took place in the year of the 20th anniversary of South Africa’s freedom and democracy. We used this occasion to express our gratitude to the governments, organisations and citizens of Africa and Europe for the important role they played in the liberation of South Africa.

In the spirit of freedom and democracy, we have renewed our commitment to play a positive and constructive role in shaping a new architecture for Africa-Europe relations based on mutual respect and partnership. It behoves us that one year after the momentous Jubilee celebration of the AU, we change the paradigm of our relations with Europe from the erstwhile donor-recipient model to a partnership based on mutual respect.

In this regard, Africa’s aspirations are encompassed in Agenda 2063, which elaborates its plan for placing the continent on a path towards prosperity, promoting peace and security and occupying its rightful place in the global system.

Our engagement with the EU should be viewed within the framework of our commitment to promote North-South cooperation. We regard the engagement with the EU as an opportunity for advancing the African Agenda and broadening our partnership to fight poverty and underdevelopment. All the more so, as we begin the final countdown towards the Millennium Development Goals in 2015.

Since the Tripoli Summit in 2010, we have observed how the euro zone economic crisis has induced an unprecedented recession across the common market, impacting negatively on the global economic recovery.

In spite of Africa’s historical connection with Europe, the impact of the crisis has been varied across the continent’s regions with many African economies showing resilience in the face of this crisis.

On the other hand, Africa has experienced a staggering positive growth momentum in recent decades, registering previously unprecedented levels of economic growth.

The position of Africa as the new frontier of growth is demonstrated by the fact that eight of the fastest growing economies in the world are in Africa. These developments take place at a time when Africa is resolutely pursuing its plan of continental economic integration.

Our integration agenda places emphasis on the regional economic communities, which are the building blocks towards the establishment of a Common African Market.

It is for this reason that we believe that our trading relations with our partners, including the EU, should support and foster Africa’s development and growth trajectory, contributing to productive employment and prosperity for all.

Africa wants to set a new trade agenda based on partnership and mutual benefit. The continent is taking tentative, yet determined measures, to develop infrastructure and is embarking on an industrialisation programme that will see Africa achieving its ambition of producing and exporting value-added goods. We are determined to transform African economies from supplier-consumer to producer economies.

In this regard, the leaders at the Brussels Summit agreed that faster industrialisation and modernisation of the enterprise sector is essential for Africa to reach middle income status. The private sector also has a role to play by investing more in mining, energy, agriculture, and manufacturing sectors.

Consistent with this new paradigm, we are of the firm view that the economic partnership agreements with the EU should be developmental in nature and reinforce the process of economic integration currently underway in Africa. We are heartened by the fact that European leaders have committed to support intra-African trade and Africa’s regional integration efforts.

With regards to peace and security, African countries are increasingly taking the primary responsibility for peace-making and peace missions on the continent.

Africans are deployed in peace support operations in conflict areas in Africa, notably in Darfur (Sudan), Somalia, Mali and now Central African Republic, as well as the collective efforts in South Sudan and the Great Lakes Region, which has led to a reduction of conflict and its impact.

This includes intervention in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as part of a UN Special Intervention Brigade that successfully drove out the M23 rebels from the eastern DRC in November 2013.

These instances illustrate the point that the doctrine of African solutions for African problems is indeed gradually taking root in Africa.

While this doctrine places the onus on African countries, it nevertheless envisages cooperation with Africa’s partners. Hence, the leaders at the fourth summit agreed to intensify their efforts of implementing the Africa Peace and Security Architecture, giving priority to preventive diplomacy and boosting Africa’s capacity to deploy quickly and effectively in crisis situations.

The summit recognised that addressing non-traditional challenges to peace and security in areas such as climate change is crucial as it has an increasing influence on economic and social development.

Maite Nkoana-Mashabane is the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation