Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Udo Bullmann, Chair of the European Parliament’s South Africa Delegation, will visit Johannesburg on November 22 and 23 in honour of the G20 Summit.
Despite the United States’ boycott, world leaders will gather this weekend in Johannesburg, South Africa, for the G20 leaders’ summit.
Bullmann’s visit comes after a high-level inter-parliamentary meeting between the European and South African Parliaments earlier in November 2025.
What challenges does Bullmann highlight for global cooperation?
The following are the expectations of the chair of the South Africa delegation to the European Parliament, according to official statements:
“It is up to the European Union to show that we are serious about building a fair and sustainable future, especially through long-term partnerships with the Global South, since leaders like Trump, Putin, and Xi Jinping are expected to stay away, and the United States is not even sending senior representatives.
Many nations are currently retreating into narrow nationalism and authoritarian forces are threatening the very foundations of multilateral cooperation. In these times Europe must present a different path: one based on solidarity, respect, and shared responsibility.
Our relationships must be built on equal footing, with the urgent challenges of climate change, poverty, rising inequality and forced migration at the centre of our cooperation. Addressing them requires a green and just transformation of our economies, that helps to create decent jobs – especially in the Global South.”
How are key EU leaders participating in G20?
On November 20, 2025, António Costa, the president of the European Council, and Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, both arrived in Johannesburg. On the fringes of the summit, both met with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to talk about trade, clean energy, and sustainable minerals, among other EU-South Africa partnerships and cooperation.
Which leaders are expected to attend the Johannesburg gathering?
According to South African officials, 42 nations and organisations have confirmed their attendance.
Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola described the summit’s attendance rate as a “success” for South Africa, noting that at least six heads of state—aside from the US—are sending high-level delegates.
Some of the most prominent names expected at the summit include: Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz, China’s Premier Li Qiang, French President Emmanuel Macron, Turkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
