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EU and Africa heads begin summit EU host hails 'summit of equals'
(40 minutes later)
EU and African leaders have begun their first joint summit in seven years, billed as heralding a new, equal relationship for the continents. The host of the first meeting of EU and African leaders for seven years has described their gathering as a "summit of equals".
The host, Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates, has said no subject, including human rights, will be taboo. But Portuguese PM Jose Socrates said there would be no shying away from thorny issues like human rights.
Activists are urging more action to solve the Darfur crisis and confront Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe.Activists are urging more action to solve the Darfur crisis and confront Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe.
Mr Mugabe is banned from the EU, but was invited to the summit after African leaders threatened to stay away.Mr Mugabe is banned from the EU, but was invited to the summit after African leaders threatened to stay away.
UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who is critical of Mr Mugabe's human rights record, is boycotting the summit in protest.UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who is critical of Mr Mugabe's human rights record, is boycotting the summit in protest.
'No taboos' 'Universal heritage'
Mr Socrates said there would be a frank and open dialogue with "no taboos".
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"Human rights are a universal heritage of humanity which we have to preserve and defend.... We have put human rights at the centre of not only our agenda but our strategy," he said in an opening speech.
He acknowledged that Zimbabwe was a sticking point, but said dialogue would bring results.
"This summit is a summit of equals," he said. "We are equal in our human dignity... but also equal in terms of political responsibility."
Ghanaian President John Kufuor, who is also president of the African Union, said it was time to shake off the colonial past.
"For almost 500 years, the relationship between our two continents had not been a happy one. It is to correct this historic injustice and inhumanity that this new relationship between Africa and the European Union is now necessary," he said.
The BBC's Mark Doyle in Lisbon says there is an emerging realisation in Europe that its relationship with Africa is changing.
Poverty and issues around development aid are still dominant, but at the same time many countries in Africa are now democracies with growing economies and growing self-confidence, our correspondent says.
African trade with China is forcing Europe to take Africa more seriously and not just as a collection of former colonial possessions, he adds.
Mr Mugabe's attendance has overshadowed the summit
Human rights is one of five key topics that leaders are due to debate at the summit.Human rights is one of five key topics that leaders are due to debate at the summit.
Without this summit, Darfur, human rights or immigration would not be discussed Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates Mugabe 'new era' dismissed
The others are trade, immigration, the environment, and peace and security.The others are trade, immigration, the environment, and peace and security.
Outside the summit actors representing African and European leaders lay "asleep" on the pavement, with demonstrators calling on them to wake up to human rights abuses in Darfur and Zimbabwe.
The Portuguese prime minister insisted the delegates would not ignore human rights.
Mr Mugabe's attendance has overshadowed the summit
"This will be a summit where we can discuss the whole range of politics, free of taboos, without any no-go areas, and we can debate every subject with total freedom," Mr Socrates told European and African business leaders meeting ahead of the gathering.
"Everything can be freely discussed. Without this summit, Darfur, human rights or immigration would not be discussed."
Mr Socrates said he hoped the conference would represent a "turning point" in relations between Europe and Africa.
Previous efforts to hold the meeting collapsed over the question of Mr Mugabe's attendance.Previous efforts to hold the meeting collapsed over the question of Mr Mugabe's attendance.
Britain and other EU countries have accused the Zimbabwean president of economic mismanagement, failure to curb corruption, and contempt for democracy.Britain and other EU countries have accused the Zimbabwean president of economic mismanagement, failure to curb corruption, and contempt for democracy.
'Riches''Riches'
Also on the eve of the summit, Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi - who has set up base in a tent outside Lisbon - called on Europe to compensate its former African colonies.Also on the eve of the summit, Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi - who has set up base in a tent outside Lisbon - called on Europe to compensate its former African colonies.
"The riches that were taken away must be given back somehow," Mr Gaddafi said in a speech at Lisbon University."The riches that were taken away must be given back somehow," Mr Gaddafi said in a speech at Lisbon University.
"If we don't face up to that truth, we'll have to pay the price one way or another - through terrorism, emigration or revenge.""If we don't face up to that truth, we'll have to pay the price one way or another - through terrorism, emigration or revenge."
The EU is hoping to draw up a number of new Economic Partnership Agreements with former African colonies and regional blocs. The World Trade Organization wants the current preferential trade deals to expire at the end of the year.The EU is hoping to draw up a number of new Economic Partnership Agreements with former African colonies and regional blocs. The World Trade Organization wants the current preferential trade deals to expire at the end of the year.
African representatives are concerned that the new agreements are unbalanced and that their countries will not be able to compete with subsidised European goods.African representatives are concerned that the new agreements are unbalanced and that their countries will not be able to compete with subsidised European goods.
Some states, though, in East Africa, have already signed up to the new deals.Some states, though, in East Africa, have already signed up to the new deals.
European countries are mindful of protecting their position in Africa amid rising competition from China, correspondents say.European countries are mindful of protecting their position in Africa amid rising competition from China, correspondents say.