Nigeria and the European Union (EU) commenced discussions on ways of tackling development challenges centered on corruption, Niger Delta, good governanceand electoral processes in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the discussions were held,on the framework of the Cotonouagreement as a follow-up to theEU-Africa Summit in Lisbon, Portugal,in December 2007.
Other issues discussed included thefight against corruption, security,crime and the situation in the NigerDelta.A statement from the EU Commissionsaid other issues on the agendaincluded Africa-EU relations, follow upto AU-EU and ECOWAS-EU meetingsas well as the situation in neighbouringcountries and regional integration.
Also, the meeting discussed globalissues identified in the African-EU jointstrategy such as conflict managementand prevention.Others are, migration, climate change,energy, security and sustainability aswell as terrorism.
Members of the EU team at the meetingincluded the Slovenian Presidency, theEuropean Commission, the GeneralSecretariat of the Council and theincoming French Presidency.
The statement said the Nigeriandelegation included officials of theMinistries of Foreign Affairs, Finance,National Planning Commission, Energy,EFCC, ICPC, NSA, NDLEA and HumanRights Commission.The next meeting is scheduled to holdin Ljubljana, Slovenia, in May and Junethis year.
Mar202008