Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Marija Pejčinović Burić attended the fifth African Union-European Union Summit in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. Pejčinović Burić cut her attendance short after the ICTY verdict against six Bosnian Croats and the death of General Slobodan Praljak.
The summit’s central theme was “Investing in Youth for a Sustainable Future”, while its goals was to reinforce Europe-Africa partnership. Because of the demographic dynamic and current challenges, youth has been recognized as the bearers of positive economic, democratic and social changes as well as sustainable development. The summit was held on the 10th anniversary of the Joint EU-Africa Strategy, which defined the relations and cooperation priorities. These include peace and security, good governance, democracy and human rights, with special emphasis on the economic dimension of these relations. The participants also discussed migration as a global challenge, with Europe and Africa sharing the same goals.
Pejčinović Burić also met with youth representatives and talked with them about the importance of creating prospects for their development and inclusion into decision-making processes, as well as the necessity for their engagement in the development and transformation of societies and communities they come from.
On the fringes of the summit, Pejčinović Burić held bilateral talks with Egyptian Foreign Minister Hassan Shoukry and Ethiopian Foreign Minister Workneh Gebeyehu. These talks with African partners had the aim of promoting and revitalizing the economic ties between Croatia and Africa, which Croatia wants to share its know-how, skills and technology with, and cooperate on projects with high development value.