Mr. Chairman of the Permanent Representatives Committee,
Madam Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission,

Members of the PRC, 
Commissioners,

Representatives of the Regional Economic Communities,

Heads of other Organs and Specialised Institutions of the African Union,  
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is with real pleasure that I am meeting you today, on the occasion of the opening of the 45^th session of the Permanent Representatives Committee physically. I would like to seize this happy opportunity afforded by the New year to convey my best wishes to you, your families as well as for your colleagues.

It is also for me to congratulate each of you, the members of the PRC and the Commission on having shown great resilience in the new working method imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, that is to work virtually, which deprived us for some time this human warmth.

My most ardent wish is to see the continued improvement of the public health situation.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

The present session that opens now will remain marked by the issues of the day that continue to considerably impact the Continent, among which are the  COVID-19 pandemic, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and its impacts on multilateralism and food security.

Your Agenda and the items included sufficiently reflect the extent of the current work and which commands a mobilisation of one and all. With the prospect meeting of the Executive Council, your session will consider the Reports of its Sub-Committees, the Reports of the Commission, the Reports of the Organs as well as the Reports of the Specialised Technical Committees.

The completion of the Institutional Reform of our Union must further engage our attention. The adoption, through you, of the First phase of the Transition Plan and the Financing Strategy of the new Departmental Structure of the Commission made it possible to provide the Commission with a managerial team selected according to the new evaluation rules established by the Executive Council.

There is a clear improvement in the procedures in this area and we must be make sure to consolidate them.

In view of the Institutional Reform, we should take note of the establishment of our new structures, in particular the African Medicines Agency (AMA) which supplements the architecture of health systems on the Continent. Added to this is the African Humanitarian Agency, whose full operationalisation will respond to the numerous needs provoked by all manner of natural disasters and the multiple ongoing conflicts on the Continent.

On the issue of Partnerships, I would like to share with you some the concerns of the Commission. Beyond the material organisation of these meetings, the problem of assessing their content, the determination of our strategic vision and participation, must be revisited in terms of international dynamics but especially the place and the role that our Union must play. A clear orientation on the subject is necessary to enable the Commission and the Member States to speak with one voice, which is a guarentee of our credibility.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,  

In the momentum of the shared responsibility that drives us to give more visibility to our actions, we held, in early December 2022, in Dakar, a Retreat not only to improve our working methods but, above all, to look at the implementation of Decisions adopted by our Policy Organs.

The Conclusions that we drew, among other things, call for a strong rationalisation in adopting Decisions and their ownership. For any new proposal for Decisions, attention must be paid to the contribution of the Commission to its legal, financial and structural implications. The Commission is working to develop the necessary guidelines as requested.

Furthermore, I would like to welcome the close cooperation between the PRC and the Commission and express the wish that it is further strengthened for the fulfilment of the noble aspirations contained in Agenda 2063.

Mr. Chairman,  

Ladies and Gentlemen,  

I would like to recall that the Commission is midway of its term and must, therefore, redouble its efforts to attain the objectives it has set itself in order to bequeath the future Commission an Organisation refocused on the Union’s priorities for the well-being of the African peoples. This will only be possible with the full cooperation of the PRC.

It is on this note that I conclude my remarks and wish you fruitful deliberations and full success to your 45^th Session.

I thank you for your kind attention