Global Gateway: Commissioners Breton and Urpilainen visit Namibia to take forward partnerships in green hydrogen and sustainable raw materials

On 24-25 January, Commissioner for the Internal Market, Thierry Breton, and Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen, will visit Southern Africa to enhance ties between the EU and Namibia and mark the 33rd anniversary of the EU-Namibia Partnership.

During the joint visit, which is a demonstration of EU’s consistent and comprehensive engagement with partners in Africa, both Commissioners will exchange views with President Geingob, as well as Deputy Prime Minister Nandi-Ndeitwah, on bilateral, regional and multilateral issues of shared interest. The focus of the visit will be to enhance cooperation under Global Gateway, the EU’s positive offer to partners to deliver trusted and sustainable connections with partner countries. The visit will be an opportunity to discuss how to take forward the Memorandum of Understanding on the EU-Namibia Partnership on Sustainable Raw Materials and Renewable Hydrogen signed by President von der Leyen and President Geingob at COP27. This partnership will support both Namibia and the EU’s climate ambitions and bring added value to the local economy.

Commissioner Breton will visit several business operations relevant to the EU-Namibia partnership, including the AfriTin Minining company and Namibia’s main port in Walvis Bay. During his visit he will talk to companies working on sustainable raw materials and on green hydrogen, including transport capacities. He will also participate in a roundtable with the Namibian Minister of Mines and Energy as well as business and civil society representatives to discuss the implementation of the EU-Namibia Partnership on Sustainable Raw Materials Value Chains and Renewable Hydrogen.

Commissioner Urpilainen on her side will launch the EU-Namibia 2022 Annual Action Plan framing core actions for EU-Namibia cooperation in the months to come focused on education, inclusive green growth and good governance and gender equality. She will also meet with the private sector and civil society organisations.