Senegalese president calls for closer EU-Africa cooperation

Senegalese President Macky Sall Wednesday praised the European Union as a "source of inspiration and hope." In his speech to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Sall called for Africa and Europe working together, stressing the special relationship between the two continents. "There is our shared history, the geographical proximity" he said and expressed the wish that "Europe and Africa open a real project of peace and security to build the foundations of a revitalised partnership." On his part, European Parliament president Martin Schulz paid tribute to Senegal saying "the country is a strategic partner for the European Union. Senegal makes an important contribution to the stability and peace in this region of the world."