The European Union expressed its anticipation of welcoming the African Union as a permanent member of the G20 following an agreement reached by the G20, a group consisting of the world’s wealthiest and most influential nations.
Charles Michel, the President of the European Council, conveyed this sentiment just a day before the G20 summit. He stated, “The European Union is looking forward to welcoming the African Union as a permanent member of the G20,” and further emphasized the EU’s support for the African Union’s inclusion in the G20, as reported by the news agency.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had initiated this proposition back in June, when he wrote to the G20 leaders, advocating for the African Union’s full membership during the summit scheduled in New Delhi. Subsequently, this proposal was formally integrated into the summit’s communique a few weeks later during the third G-20 Sherpas conference held in Hampi, Karnataka, in July. The final decision on this matter will be made during the G-20 summit.
The African Union (AU) is a significant organization comprising 55 member states representing the African continent’s countries.
The G20, or Group of 20, is an intergovernmental organization that brings together the world’s largest industrialized and developing economies. Its membership includes Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the UK, the US, India, and the European Union (EU). India assumed the rotating presidency of this multinational group on December 1, 2022.
Currently, the G20 consists of 19 countries and the European Union. These G20 members collectively account for approximately 85 percent of the global GDP, over 75 percent of global trade, and about two-thirds of the world’s population.
In summary, the European Union eagerly anticipates the African Union becoming a permanent member of the G20, a significant development in the realm of international diplomacy and cooperation among major economies.