South Africa and the European Union (EU) have strengthened their collaboration on trade, energy transition, and global peace efforts during the 16th Session of the Ministerial Political Dialogue held in Cape Town.

The dialogue, co-chaired by International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola and the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, reinforced the growing strategic partnership between the two sides.

Trade and investment featured prominently in the discussions, with both parties reaffirming South Africa’s role as the EU’s largest trading partner in sub-Saharan Africa and the EU as South Africa’s primary trade and investment partner. The dialogue set the stage for further economic cooperation ahead of the upcoming 8th EU-South Africa Summit on 13 March 2025.

A key focus was on advancing a just energy transition, particularly in the critical minerals sector, which is essential for industrialisation, technological innovation, and sustainable growth. 

The EU and South Africa underscored the need for a balanced transition that ensures energy security, job creation, and economic competitiveness.

On the global stage, both parties reiterated their commitment to multilateralism and a rules-based international order, calling for reforms to make the United Nations Security Council more representative and effective. 

The joint communique said, “The EU-South Africa Ministerial Political Dialogue builds on the joint aspiration to further the strategic partnership, which has grown in depth and ambition over the years. 

“The political and security cooperation is strong, and so are trade and investment relations: South Africa is the EU’s largest trading partner in sub-Saharan Africa, and the EU is South Africa’s first trade and investment partner.

“The Ministerial Political Dialogue presented an opportunity for the European Union and South Africa to reiterate their common commitment to multilateralism, a consistent approach to the rules-based international order, and the centrality of the United Nations Charter. 

“The parties further agreed on the need to reform the UN Security Council, recognising the urgent need to make it more representative, inclusive, transparent, efficient, democratic and accountable.

“In line with the UN Charter, all states must refrain from the threat or use of force to seek territorial acquisition against the territorial integrity and sovereignty or political independence of any state and affirmed that all parties in conflicts must comply with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law.

“Underlining the importance of a just energy transition, the European Union and South Africa reviewed opportunities to step up cooperation on sustainable value chains, including critical raw materials with a view to further their respective competitiveness, economic security and decarbonisation efforts. 

“The parties agreed that critical minerals have emerged as a pivotal topic on the global stage, reflecting a critical role in driving industrialisation, technological innovation, and inclusive economic growth. South Africa underscored the need for the transition to a low carbon economy to be just, enhance energy security and create jobs. The two sides acknowledged the role of regulatory cooperation, investment facilitation, as well as of businesses in driving these initiatives.

“The EU and South Africa also stressed that for trade and investment to act as a driver of global growth, well-being and prosperity, a transparent rules-based multilateral trading system, that is non-discriminatory, fair, open, inclusive, equitable and sustainable is a necessity. Both sides reaffirmed that the WTO must be at the core such a multilateral trading system.”