During a diplomatic mission to Cape Town, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the launch of negotiations for a Clean Trade and Investment Partnership with South Africa. Von der Leyen highlighted South Africa's potential to become a global leader in clean energy, emphasizing the abundance of clean energy sources like wind and sun, as well as critical raw materials essential for electrolysis. The partnership also includes an investment package of €4.7bn through the Global Gateway scheme to support South Africa's green transition and enhance critical raw material processing and infrastructure development. Key focus areas for investment include green hydrogen production, renewable energy, transport infrastructure, digitalization, vaccine production, and skills development. Additionally, the partnership addresses peace and conflict resolution, with a specific emphasis on regions like Ukraine, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and calling for accountability of rebel groups in mineral-rich areas. The EU reiterated its commitment to the Just Energy Transition Partnership signed at the COP26 climate summit, signaling ongoing support for developing countries transitioning away from fossil fuels.