PORTUGAL:European and African leaders arrived in Lisbon yesterday amid fears that this weekend's summit, aimed at forging a new partnership between the two continents, may be overshadowed by the presence of Zimbabwe's president, Robert Mugabe.
Heads of state from more than 70 countries will discuss issues such as trade, development, migration, energy, human rights and climate change when the two-day EU-Africa summit - the first such gathering since 2000 - formally opens today.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern is due to attend, as is Ronan Murphy, the director general of Irish Aid, the Government's overseas development division.
The gathering comes at a crucial time in relations between the two continents. Europe remains Africa's biggest trading partner - trade amounted to €149 billion last year - and main donor of aid, but this position looks increasingly vulnerable in the face of China's burgeoning economic and political ties with dozens of African governments.
Furthermore, relations have become increasingly strained on trade issues, with a number of African states accusing Europe of trying to rush them into accepting controversial trade pacts known as economic partnership agreements, ahead of a World Trade Organisation deadline at the end of the year.
This week South Africa announced it would not sign the new trade deal, saying concerns over its possible "detrimental impacts" had to be addressed.
Several development organisations and individuals, including Bono and Bob Geldof, have put their names to an advertisement (carried on this page) calling on the Taoiseach to use his influence to "ensure Ireland's aid to developing countries is not undermined by unfair trade agreements" such as economic partnership agreements.
Trócaire director Justin Kilcullen said there were "huge uncertainties" about the implications of such deals for African trade, adding that the EU should allow more time for African countries to negotiate the agreements.
Despite these tensions, EU officials are keen to stress the beginning of a "new strategic partnership" between the two continents.
"We need to consider this summit as a launch pad for a new era in the relationship between Europe and Africa," EU development and humanitarian aid commissioner Louis Michel said this week.
"This summit must mark the end of a relationship rooted in conservatism and sometimes prejudice on both sides and mark the start of a recognition of the real opportunities that are at hand for both sides," he added.
Human rights groups have criticised summit organisers for not timetabling specific sessions on Darfur and Zimbabwe but officials say they expect these issues to arise during debates on human rights and security.
Referring to the attendance of Robert Mugabe at the summit, South African Nobel peace laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu said it was vital that European leaders engaged in a robust debate on human rights abuses in Zimbabwe. "Since he has been invited I would hope that the European Union will speak without any euphemism on human rights which are being violated so blatantly in Zimbabwe," Archbishop Tutu told Portuguese radio.
British prime minister Gordon Brown decided to boycott the summit because of Mr Mugabe's presence.
However Mr Mugabe's spokesman, George Charamba, told The Irish Times the row over his attendance should not overshadow the summit. "Britain is not Europe and Zimbabwe is not Africa, so the issue of Gordon Brown and President Mugabe should stay on the sidelines in what is a highly important intercontinental conference," he said.