rki.news
LUSAKA, May 20 — The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the European Union (EU) have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen cooperation across key sectors, including regional integration, economic transformation, peace and stability, and sustainable development, during a high-level dialogue in Lusaka, Zambia.
The EU-COMESA Strategic Political Dialogue, held Tuesday, brought together senior officials to assess the evolving global economic and geopolitical environment and its impact on trade, investment, and development in eastern and southern Africa. COMESA Secretary General Chileshe Kapwepwe said the meeting comes amid global challenges including conflicts, supply chain disruptions, rising energy and food costs, and climate-related shocks reshaping trade and investment flows. She said these pressures are affecting trade corridors, food and energy security, fiscal capacity, and the cost of doing business, while stressing the need for deeper reflection on the partnership’s future.
EU Ambassador to Zambia and Special Representative to COMESA Karolina Stasiak said the dialogue reflects the importance the EU places on its partnership with COMESA. She noted both sides share a vision of building stable, prosperous, and sustainable economies, and praised COMESA’s progress in advancing regional integration. The EU reaffirmed its commitment to supporting peace and security efforts, including conflict mediation, investment in trade corridors, and addressing structural drivers of instability across the region.