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EU-African leaders to seal pact EU-African leaders to seal pact
(about 1 hour later)
European and African leaders will mark the end of a two-day summit in Lisbon by signing a pact promoting free trade and democracy.European and African leaders will mark the end of a two-day summit in Lisbon by signing a pact promoting free trade and democracy.
The EU-Africa Strategic Partnership document will outline joint policy aims in areas such as security, development and good governance. The summit has been seen as an attempt by Europe to regain lost ground in Africa and combat growing Chinese influence on the continent.
The summit has been dominated by controversy surrounding the presence of Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe. But Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade told the leaders that Europe had almost lost the race for influence in Africa.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Mr Mugabe's policies had "damaged Africa". Controversy over Zimbabwe leader Robert Mugabe's presence has also dominated.
Ambitious agenda German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who was tasked with voicing the EU's concerns about Zimbabwe, said Mr Mugabe's policies had "damaged Africa".
The BBC's Mark Doyle in Lisbon says the EU-Africa Strategic Partnership pact is a hugely ambitious agenda and implementing the proposals will be difficult.
He says that although the plan talks about promoting peace and security, two EU peacekeeping deployments in Sudan and Chad are already well overdue.
And our correspondent adds that Europe and Africa are currently in open disagreement over an EU plan for import tax reductions, despite the pact's focus on free trade.
The first day of the summit was overshadowed by the contentious presence of Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe.
Previous efforts to hold EU-African summits have collapsed over the question of Mr Mugabe's attendance.
Although Mr Mugabe is banned from the EU, African leaders demanded he be invited to attend. UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown has boycotted the meeting in protest.
We don't have the right to look away when human rights are trampled on German Chancellor Angela Merkel Mugabe 'new era' dismissedEU-Africa: Key issues
Chancellor Merkel had been tasked with expressing the EU's concerns about the situation in Zimbabwe, where Mr Mugabe is accused of economic mismanagement, failure to curb corruption and contempt for democracy.
With Mr Mugabe in the audience, she said she stood with Zimbabwe's people.
"The situation in Zimbabwe concerns us all, in Europe as in Africa," she said. "We don't have the right to look away when human rights are trampled on.""The situation in Zimbabwe concerns us all, in Europe as in Africa," she said. "We don't have the right to look away when human rights are trampled on."
'Summit of equals' Previous efforts to hold EU-African summits have collapsed over the question of Mr Mugabe's attendance.
Although he is banned from the EU, African leaders demanded he be invited to attend. UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown has boycotted the meeting in protest.
Mr Mugabe, who is still regarded by many African leaders as the heroic liberator of Zimbabwe, has not yet responded publicly to the remarks.
Ambitious agenda
The EU-Africa Strategic Partnership document, to be signed later, will outline joint policy aims in areas such as security, development and good governance.
Today is very clear that Europe is close to losing the battle of competition in Africa Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade Mugabe 'new era' dismissedEU-Africa: Key issues
The BBC's Mark Doyle in Lisbon says the pact is a hugely ambitious agenda and implementing the proposals will be difficult.
President Wade criticised European leaders for trying to pressure African countries into signing new trade deals, adding that China's approach was winning more friends.
"Today is very clear that Europe is close to losing the battle of competition in Africa," he said.
Our correspondent says that while China has massively increased its investments in Africa it does not tend to comment on issues such as democracy and human rights.
He adds that Europe and Africa are currently in open disagreement over an EU plan for import tax reductions, despite the pact's focus on free trade.
'Shake off colonialism'
Earlier, Portuguese PM Jose Socrates described the gathering - the first for seven years - as a "summit of equals".Earlier, Portuguese PM Jose Socrates described the gathering - the first for seven years - as a "summit of equals".
Africa wary of trade offerQ&A: Trade dealAfrica wary of trade offerQ&A: Trade deal
"We are equal in our human dignity... but also equal in terms of political responsibility," he said in an opening speech."We are equal in our human dignity... but also equal in terms of political responsibility," he said in an opening speech.
He acknowledged that Zimbabwe was a sticking point, but said dialogue would bring results.
The EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso also criticised the way President Mugabe was treating the people of Zimbabwe.
"Frankly we hope that those who have fought for the independence and freedom of their countries now can also accept the freedom for their own citizens," he said.
Mr Mugabe, who is still regarded by many African leaders as the heroic liberator of Zimbabwe, has not yet responded publicly to the remarks.
Trade deals
Ghanaian President John Kufuor, who is also president of the African Union, said it was time to shake off the colonial past.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.
Meanwhile, French President Nicolas Sarkozy met his Rwandan counterpart to "start to normalise" ties, which were severed last year in a row over a French inquiry into events that led to the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
"We want to turn the page, we want to look to the future," said Mr Sarkozy following talks with President Paul Kagame.
The EU is attempting 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 attempting 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.