Buhari to Participate in Nigeria EU-AU Summit in Abidjan Wednesday

President Muhammadu Buhari will on Wednesday join other African and European leaders to participate in the two-day 5th European Union (EU)- African Union (AU) Summit scheduled to hold in Abidjan, Cote d’voire.

The summit, billed to hold on Wednesday and Thursday, according to information available to THISDAY last night, is designed to bring together key decision makers from both the EU and Africa to discuss future relations between the two continents and also deepen their connections.

Ivorian President, Alhassan Outara, had on October 30, this year told journalists in the State House, Abuja after visiting Buhari, that the president had agreed to partipate in the summit.

Information obtained online about the summit last night showed that discussion during the summit would involve negotiations on the renewal of Cotonou Partnership Agreement and future relations between the EU and African, Carribean and Pacific countries.

It added that at the end of the meeting, the EU Commission will negotiate a new agreement for 2018 to 2020.

It also said the intercontinental summit which holds every three years will feature events such as the EU- Africa Business Forum and AU election.

It said: “The EU -Africa summit brings together key decisionmakers from the EU and Africa to discuss the future of relations and to deepen connections between the two continents.

“The summit falls within the context of ongoing discussion and negotiation on the renewal of the Cotonou Partnership Agreement and the future relations between the EU and African, Carribean and Pacific (ACP) countries.

“By the end of 2017, the EU Commission will negotiate new agreement foe 2018- 2020. Thw summit occurs every three years and 2017 edition will follow several key events including the EU-Africa Business Forum and the election of African Union.”